Opinion – PVC: Palmeiras has a new version of the team that never lost

There is a team in the history of Palmeiras that has never lost. It is almost poetry to say Leão, Eurico, Luís Pereira, Alfredo and Zeca; Dudu and Ademir da Guia; Edu, Leivinha, César and Nei. In 16 matches, eight wins and eight draws.

On Sunday (21), Abel Ferreira’s team faced Flamengo with another team that remains unbeatable: Weverton, Marcos Rocha, Gustavo Gomez, Murilo and Piquerez; Danilo and Zé Rafael; Dudu, Raphael Veiga and Scarpa; Ron. Together, the eleven played six times, won three and won the third draw.

The verb conquer is here conjugated in the third person plural, because the result endorses Palmeiras as the main candidate for the title. The eight point difference does not guarantee, but pushes towards the 11th trophy of the championship.

Uncertainty is the table. In the remaining fifteen games, Palmeiras will face Fluminense, Athletico, Internacional and Atlético Mineiro away from home. Abel Ferreira heard from his players that the recipe for winning the championship is not losing at home. On the other hand, he could be the first Brazilian champion in consecutive points unbeaten as a visitor, two defeats at Allianz Parque.

Against Flamengo, the strategy prevailed less than in the Libertadores final nine months ago. Maybe because Flamengo allowed the hosts to play in attack.

Scarpa always plays on the side of the most offensive opposing side. Abel Ferreira protects Dudu – and his team, allowing shirt 7 to attack more. The reason is obvious: Scarpa scores better. But Flamengo’s goal was born from Ayrton Lucas, in the sector protected by Scarpa. In the second half, De Arrascaeta almost scored 2-1 after a cross from Matheuzinho. Scarpa also accompanied him.

You can’t plan everything. Scarpa didn’t play badly, he wasn’t at fault in the goal and Dudu gave the pass to Raphael Veiga’s goal, when he changed the left side for the right.

Palmeiras’ departure from play usually works, either with short passes, or with long shots. Remember Gustavo Gómez passing to Mayke to offer the goal to Raphael Veiga, in the Libertadores final. The rehearsal worked that time. From this, a long shot by Marcos Rocha landed in Flamengo’s defense and turned into the first goal, Ayrton Lucas’ cross for Victor Hugo’s header.

The classic between the two best teams in Brazil did not turn into a game. The match was tense and had less strategy than the Libertadores final. Palmeiras did not try to attract the rival. He went on the attack and this may have been one of the reasons for tactical issues to appear less than usual with Abel Ferreira.

Ayrton Lucas was the best on the field, scoring Scarpa in the first half, Dudu in the second, when the Palmeiras striker gave the pass for the red-black goal. There was yet another one, well ruled out by Raphael Veiga’s offside, and almost no danger from corners.

Rare thing. Palmeiras has the best attack in Brazil this year, with 112 goals, of which 43 are on the air. Flamengo is the second most positive attack and 41 of their 103 goals are also from the air.

Stopping corners was part of Abel Ferreira’s plan. His classic formation remains undefeated. He missed winning the game.

The reaction

Neymar follows his reaction at the beginning of the season. Against Lille, champions for two seasons, the Brazilian scored twice and made three decisive passes. For the third game in a row, he was the best on the field, even with a great performance from Mbappé, this time.

The challenge

Casemiro’s challenge to accept the transfer to Manchester United isn’t much to do with money, but it could have to do with competition. Frenchman Tchouaméni could be the steering wheel of the future, both at the World Cup and at Real Madrid.