Abel Ferreira weighs selection call before Palmeiras’ Copa do Brasil tie at Santos | OneFootball

Abel Ferreira must balance rotation against rhythm as Palmeiras switch focus to the Copa do Brasil after a commanding first leg against Santos, while the league race tightens.

According to Nosso Palestra, in similar scenarios earlier in this cup he protected several regulars for the return after 3-0 home wins. Palmeiras beat Santos 3-0 in the quarter-final first leg, with Flaco López scoring twice and Andreas Pereira also on target, and now head to Vila Belmiro.

On Sunday they drew 1-1 at Mirassol, Eduardo put the hosts ahead before Maurício levelled. The result kept Palmeiras top on 52 points, but their lead over Flamengo is down to four. Flamengo beat Botafogo 3-0 at the Maracanã and have a game in hand against Mirassol on Wednesday, a win could trim the gap to one.

Even before that draw, Ferreira had indicated the scoreline alone would not prompt an alternative line-up, stressing the need to attack every competition with maximum strength.

After the first leg, Jhon Arias and Joaquín Piquerez were diagnosed with muscular problems and missed out, while Gustavo Gómez, withdrawn as a precaution, had no injury detected. Arias was rested against Mirassol, with Felipe Anderson starting, and Ferreira is also managing heavy workloads across the squad.

Monday’s session brought Alexander Barboza, Piquerez and Arias back into full work. Barboza had been spared at Mirassol due to a foot knock, Piquerez had been recovering from a right-thigh oedema, and Arias from a minor right-thigh issue.

There is scope to rest the most fatigued and involve fringe players, although any shock exit would reframe those choices. Every selection call now carries added significance.

Source: Nosso Palestra

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”