Academy starlet eager for Palmeiras debut against Juventude | OneFootball

Rafael Coutinho, one of the main prospects from the youth categories of Palmeiras, is eagerly anticipating his debut for the professional team in the match against Juventude, this Saturday, at 7 PM (Brasília time), at Allianz Parque, in a delayed match of the 12th round of the Brazilian Championship.

The midfielder has been on the rise since his participation in the Under-20 World Cup. Called up to represent the Brazilian National Team, he was a starter in all three group stage matches and scored a goal in the opening match against Mexico.

Despite the early elimination of the Brazilian team, the athlete's individual performance boosted his projection at the São Paulo club. In the main squad, Coutinho has already been listed by Abel Ferreira on two occasions in the Brasileirão, in the matches against Grêmio and Vitória.

Now, the midfield absences increase the chance that he will get an opportunity—not necessarily as a starter, but coming on during the match. The sector suffers from the absences of Aníbal Moreno (called up by Argentina), Emiliano Martínez (Uruguayan national team), and Lucas Evangelista (right thigh surgery).

With 55 points, Palmeiras shares the top of the table with Flamengo but has the advantage due to the number of victories. The match against Juventude allows Verdão to equal the number of games with the Rio de Janeiro rival and represents a chance to take an isolated lead in the Brasileirão.

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