Opinion – PVC: Cotia’s cubs will attack Abel’s plan

Vítor Pereira started Roger Guedes in the place he likes the most, played Willian to the right, where he feels comfortable, and took Renato Augusto out of Rodrigo Nestor’s marking, by choosing him as a centre-forward. He was smart, but he didn’t get the expected result.

Because Corinthians started to run after Rodrigo Nestor, with Giuliano chasing him. Instead of increasing comfort for his midfielder, Renato Augusto, he made Nestor more creative than a scorer.

Corinthians has a famous and experienced squad with little vitality. Corinthians had seven players over the age of 31. São Paulo played with five under 23 and that was because Gabriel Sara was injured.

The first signs were that São Paulo pushed Corinthians back, with 60% possession of the ball in the first twenty minutes, exactly the opposite of what the Corinthians coach intended: “We are going to play an intelligent game, with the ball”, said Vítor Pereira , on arrival at Morumbi.

The immediate result of the change was bad for Corinthians. Renato Augusto, always the midfielder with the most ball movement in his team, lagged behind Paulinho, Willian and Giuliano. While Rodrigo Nestor became the organizer who most touched the ball.

Vítor Pereira returned Renato Augusto to the frame in the 33rd minute of the first half and São Paulo remade their original marking plan, Pablo Maia stuck to Paulinho, Nestor to Renato. In practice, little has changed, because Tricolor had already given confidence to Rodrigo Nestor, who continued to be more marked than a scorer.

It was his pass to Welington to shoot Cássio and make it 1 x 0, in the 41st minute. Only after that, in the second half, Corinthians started to control the game with the ball at their feet. With almost no finishing.

The last minutes of Corinthians were even surprising, with Jô, Júnior Moraes and Roger Guedes attacking. But the Portuguese coach’s puzzle is not easy. Having seven starters over the age of 31 and making them play with vitality on Wednesdays and Sundays. The opposite dilemma to that of São Paulo, with five players under the age of 23, in addition to Gabriel Sara, absent due to injury.

São Paulo evolved during the state championship, with the strength of Cotia’s offspring. Nestor gave the pass for Welington’s first goal. Igor Gomes participated in the second play.

São Paulo reaches the decision for the second year in a row, with the most positive attack, against Palmeiras, of the least leaked defense of all time, at Paulista. There are four goals conceded in 14 matches (2.28 on average).

Abel Ferreira’s team seems more balanced, but they had trouble in the second half against Bragantino, who finished 17 times. This year, only Chelsea kicked more against the Palmeiras goal, but hit the target three times, half of what Braga achieved.

In other words, it was not easy for Palmeiras. The decision, which starts on Wednesday, in Morumbi, will not be easy either.

From the point of view of assembling the squad, Palmeiras has seven holders between 23 and 28 years old, São Paulo will have six under 23. More difficult is the puzzle of Vítor Pereira. Build a great team with an excellent coach and six World Cup players. Rare talents, but that don’t yield what they did in the past.

the renovation

Abel Ferreira answered about the Brazilian team, but the Portuguese team could become a reality for him, after the Cup — or if Portugal loses to North Macedonia. The new contract protects Palmeiras in the market. Point for Leila Pereira. Keeping until 2024 imposes other variables.

Cup preview

Spain sweated to beat Albania, France to beat Côte d’Ivoire, Italy is eliminated and the best performance of the weekend was the Netherlands, in the 4-2 victory over Denmark. The World Cup will have balance and unpredictability never seen before.