Abel Ferreira: Leading the charge against Brazilian managers

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Nosso Palestra

·21 October 2025

Abel Ferreira: Leading the charge against Brazilian managers

Since arriving at Palmeiras in 2020, Abel Ferreira has become the most feared name in the Americas. Cool-headed, strategic, and victorious, the Portuguese coach has built a history marked by heated clashes — especially against Brazilian coaches. And now, in 2025, he faces one of them again: Tiago Nunes, manager of LDU.

2020 – The glorious beginning and the final against Cuca

Abel’s first year at Palmeiras was magical. After eliminating River Plate and Libertad, Verdão played for the title against Cuca of Santos. Final: Palmeiras 1×0 Santos (goal by Breno Lopes at Maracanã). Abel’s first Libertadores and the end of a 21-year drought.

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2021 – Cuca and Renato Gaúcho on the way

In 2021, the Portuguese coach remained unstoppable.

Semifinal: faced Cuca, now at Atlético-MG, and advanced with Dudu’s away goal (1×1 on aggregate).
Final: a national clash against Renato Gaúcho of Flamengo. Deyverson shone in extra time and secured the second title. Palmeiras 2×1 Flamengo. Two-time champions of the Americas!

2022 – The semifinal fall to Felipão

Verdão remained strong and once again crossed paths with Brazilian coaches:

Quarterfinals: got past Cuca (Atlético-MG) on penalties after two draws.
Semifinal: the opponent was Felipão, a Palmeiras idol now at Athletico-PR. In a dramatic clash, Furacão advanced with a goal by Terans at Allianz. Eliminated in the semis.

2023 – Abel gets revenge against Felipão in the round of 16

The rematch with Felipão came right in the round of 16 — and this time the Portuguese coach came out on top. Palmeiras beat Atlético-MG and continued strong in the competition, showing that the 2022 clash was in the past.Abel got past Felipão and advanced.

2025 – New chapter: Abel vs Tiago Nunes

Now, fate puts Abel Ferreira face to face with Tiago Nunes, the Brazilian coach in charge of LDU.The two have only faced each other once: Palmeiras 2×1 Ceará.

And now?

With the result, Verdão and Flamengo are tied in the Brazilian Championship standings, both with 61 points from 28 matches played. The Palmeiras team remains in the lead on tiebreakers – 19 wins against 18.

The Palmeiras squad returns to the field for the Brasileirão next Sunday (26th) at 8:30 p.m. (Brasília time) against Cruzeiro at Allianz Parque. The Minas Gerais team is in third place, five points behind Palmeiras, but with one more match played – 28 compared to 29.

Before that, the team takes the field for the first leg of the Libertadores semifinal, against LDU, on Thursday (23rd) at 9:30 p.m. (Brasília time), away from home in Quito, Ecuador.

Upcoming Palmeiras matches

LDU vs Palmeiras – Conmebol Libertadores – 10/23 – 9:30 p.m. (Brasília time)
Palmeiras vs Cruzeiro – Brazilian Championship – 10/26 – 8:30 p.m. (Brasília time)

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