Veiga on Palmeiras v Flamengo: expects a mental battle in Libertadores | OneFootball

On Saturday, Palmeiras will compete in their third Libertadores final under coach Abel Ferreira, aiming for their fourth championship in history. This Wednesday, the team had their first activities on Peruvian soil. Before the training, midfielder Raphael Veiga spoke about the expectations for the game.

"As the game gets closer, we start thinking more, focusing more on the match. I'm very happy to be here once again and I hope that, just like in 2021, the ending will be happy too," he said to ESPN.

The teams are repeating the 2021 final, in which Palmeiras emerged victorious with a 2-1 win. Raphael Veiga and Deyverson scored the goals for Palmeiras in the match that took place at the Estadio Centenario in Montevideo.

Is Flamengo Palmeiras' biggest rival at the moment?

Palmeiras and Flamengo have been engaged in a strong rivalry in recent years. Dominant in the Brazilian scene, the teams have faced each other in three finals since 2021. Additionally, they have also clashed in knockout games and have been competing point by point for this season's Brazilian championship. Raphael Veiga analyzed the rivalry and identified Flamengo as Palmeiras' biggest rival currently.

"I think because of the recent titles and always competing for titles, Flamengo is our biggest rival today. Obviously, when it's a Derby, there's a different aspect, but Flamengo has been the team competing for titles with us in recent years. They are a very strong team, just like us," he emphasized.

"It's something that Abel emphasizes a lot and helps us with (the mental aspect). I think in an athlete's life, this is very important. We know the results and performance in recent games, but a Libertadores final is different from everything else. We still have two days of training to go and will fine-tune some things, but the most important thing is to be focused at the highest level. Games like this are not just played; they are very mental, and we have to be calm to make the best decisions," projected Veiga.

Next Palmeiras game

Palmeiras vs. Flamengo Competition: Libertadores (Final) Date and time: November 29, 2025 (Saturday), at 6 PM (Brasília time) Venue: Estadio Monumental U, in Lima (PER)

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