Flaco López and Vitor Roque aim to revive Palmeiras partnership of 2025 | OneFootball

After a long spell without playing together, Flaco López and Vitor Roque shared Palmeiras’ attack once again. The duo were on the pitch together for a few minutes in the 4-0 rout of Vitória at Barradão in the final round of the Brazilian Championship, and they are beginning a new battle for a place in Abel Ferreira’s starting lineup.

The reunion comes at a different moment for both players. Vitor Roque spent the last few weeks recovering from an injury and recently returned to action. Flaco López, meanwhile, was unavailable for Verdão during the 2026 World Cup and became available again after representing the Argentina national team.

Now, the two are looking to recreate a partnership that paid off last season.

The duo discovered by Abel

Exactly one year ago, Abel Ferreira found a setup that would change Palmeiras’ attack. A few days after the elimination against Corinthians in the round of 16 of the Copa do Brasil, the coach opted to play Flaco López and Vitor Roque together in the second half of the Brazilian Championship match against Ceará.

In that match, played on August 10, 2025, Palmeiras came from behind to win 2-1, with goals from the attacking duo. Flaco equalized from the penalty spot, while Vitor Roque scored the winner shortly afterward.

Chemistry that delivered results

In the closing stretch of 2025, the partnership established itself as one of Palmeiras’ main attacking weapons. In several matches, the forwards were directly involved in each other’s goals, with assists and movement that confused opposing defenses.

New opportunity in 2026

The 2026 season, however, interrupted that run. Injuries, call-ups, and fierce competition in the attacking sector prevented Abel from fielding the duo regularly.

In the win over Vitória, Flaco López and Vitor Roque played together again, even if only for a few minutes, offering the first signs that the partnership could get a new chance just before the start of the decisive August fixture marathon.

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