Vitor Roque and Flaco López duo boost Palmeiras for 2025 | OneFootball

The good moment for Palmeiras this season, following their huge qualification against River Plate at Allianz Parque this Wednesday (24), is largely thanks to two key figures: Vitor Roque and Flaco López. The forwards, who scored all three goals in Verdão’s win over the Argentinians, have been rising to the occasion at one of the most crucial times of the season.

The numbers show their importance and how the duo has become fundamental to a team that is increasingly showing its identity: gritty and technically refined. After losing players like midfielder Richard Ríos and forward Estêvão, and being eliminated from the Copa do Brasil by Corinthians (having also lost the Paulista Championship final to their rivals months earlier), a season that once seemed lost may now be saved, largely thanks to this duo.

Since the elimination by Corinthians in the round of 16 of the Copa do Brasil, Flaco has been involved in nine of Abel Ferreira’s team’s goals, while Vitor Roque has directly contributed to 12 goals. It was precisely in the match following their elimination, in the 2-1 win over Ceará on August 10, that the duo played side by side for the first time.

Many of the goals during this period involved both the number 9 and the number 42 working together, like bow and arrow: one providing the assist and the other finishing the ball into the net.

This change has seen Vitor Roque’s performance and numbers improve. He has already surpassed his goal involvements from his time in European football, even with fewer matches played. In the win against River Plate, the number 9 reached 16 direct goal involvements—12 goals and four assists in 41 matches—compared to nine during his time at Betis and Barcelona—nine goals and no assists in 49 games.

As for Flaco López, after being called up for the first time to the Argentina National Team this September, he is beginning to dream of a World Cup spot. Palmeiras’ top scorer in 2025, with 19 goals, he is just three away from matching his best season for the club, when he scored 22 in 2024.

Additionally, López has already reached 23 goal involvements and has a chance to surpass his best mark in his career. He needs just six more goals and/or assists for the number 42 to match last season’s performance.

What now?

Palmeiras now awaits the winner of São Paulo and LDU (EQU) to find out their opponent in the Libertadores semifinal. In the first match, played in Quito, Ecuador, the home team won 2-0. The teams face off again this Thursday (25), at Morumbis.

The team returns to the field next Sunday (28) against Bahia, away, in the Brazilian Championship. Alviverde sits in third place, with 49 points, behind Cruzeiro with 50, and Flamengo with 51. However, the team has games in hand compared to their rivals.

Upcoming Palmeiras matches

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