Leila Pereira of Palmeiras celebrates Flamengo’s double runners-up year | OneFootball

Palmeiras was runner-up to Flamengo twice in 2025

The 2025 season was ‘magical’ for Flamengo. However, it is also a reason for “pride” for Palmeiras, who finished as runner-up in both the Libertadores and the Brasileirão to the Most Beloved. The president of the São Paulo team, Leila Pereira, made a point of highlighting last year’s failures.

— It wasn’t frustrating. It wasn’t. A club that reaches three finals as runner-up is not a failure. But we got there. I am very proud of those runner-up finishes. This year (2026), it was important for us to start by winning the Paulista, it’s the result of work not just from this year, but from years of effort that have always brought us here. In my term, I don’t know what it’s like not to reach a Paulista final. We started very well — said Leila, this Monday (09).

WHAT WERE THE THREE RUNNER-UP FINISHES FOR PALMEIRAS LAST YEAR?

In 2025, even after investing R$ 700 million, Palmeiras didn’t win anything. They lost the final of the Campeonato Paulista to Corinthians, fell in the Libertadores final with a goal by Danilo, and received the silver medal in the Brasileirão, also behind Flamengo.

On the other hand, the Most Beloved lifted six trophies in 2025: Carioca, Supercopa, Brasileirão, Libertadores, Dérbi das Américas, and Copa Challenger. Now, in 2026, the teams start off tied. That’s because Palmeiras took the Paulistão, and Flamengo won the Carioca.

HOW ARE FLAMENGO AND PALMEIRAS DOING IN THE BRASILEIRÃO?

With the state championships over, teams are now focusing on the Brasileirão. Flamengo, with one game less, has four points and is in 11th place. Palmeiras, meanwhile, leads the competition with ten points. The Rubro-Negro faces Cruzeiro this round at Maracanã; and Leila Pereira’s team takes on Vasco at São Januário.

WHAT TIME IS FLAMENGO VS CRUZEIRO, AFTER ALL?

Chasing Palmeiras at the top of the Brasileirão, Flamengo faces Cruzeiro starting at 9:30 PM (Brasília time), at Maracanã. If there’s Mengão on the field, there’s full coverage from Coluna do Fla, straight from the Sacred Temple of world football.

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