Decisive August: Palmeiras face up to nine games, avoid past script | OneFootball

After the break for the World Cup, Palmeiras begins one of the most important stretches of the season. The month of August could see Verdão take the field up to nine times, with crucial fixtures in the Brazilian Championship, the Copa do Brasil, and the CONMEBOL Libertadores.

The marathon begins this Sunday (2) against Fortaleza at Nubank Parque, in the first leg of the Copa do Brasil round of 16. Three days later, on Wednesday (5), the return leg will take place at Arena Pantanal, after the Ceará club sold its home-field rights.

In addition to the two confirmed Copa do Brasil clashes, Palmeiras will also have four Brazilian Championship matches during the month and two more games in the Libertadores round of 16. If they eliminate Fortaleza, the schedule will gain one more date, with the first leg of the Copa do Brasil quarterfinals at the end of August, totaling nine matches.

The marathon could define the season

The period is seen internally as a turning point. Leaders of the Brazilian Championship, Palmeiras are also still alive in both knockout competitions and know that August could determine the course of the season.

According to the CBF and CONMEBOL calendar, the Copa do Brasil quarterfinals have dates reserved for August 26 and September 2, while the Libertadores round of 16 will be played between August 11 and 20, further increasing the run of decisive matches.

The ghost of recent eliminations

Despite their good form in 2026, August brings recent memories the club is trying to erase.

In 2024, Palmeiras were eliminated in the Copa do Brasil round of 16 by Flamengo and, a few days later, were also knocked out in the Libertadores round of 16 by Botafogo, ending their runs in both cups in less than two weeks.

Then in 2025, the team once again suffered an early elimination in the Copa do Brasil, this time against Corinthians, again during the month of August, postponing their goal of winning the national tournament again.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.