Analysis: Flaco-Sosa duo step up for Palmeiras without Vitor Roque | OneFootball

Without Vitor Roque, injured and sidelined until after the World Cup, Palmeiras has found a new formula for its attack. And it has been working. Lined up together once again, Ramón Sosa and Flaco López led the 2-0 win over Sporting Cristal on Tuesday (5) at Alejandro Villanueva Stadium in Lima, in the fourth round of the Libertadores group stage.

The duo once again proved decisive at a time when Abel Ferreira’s team is adapting offensively. Flaco opened the scoring in the first half, and Sosa doubled the lead shortly after the break, cementing a partnership that is growing game by game as Verdão looks for alternatives to make up for the absence of its marquee signing of the season.

Palmeiras’ top scorer this year, Flaco López is enjoying one of his best runs since arriving at the club. The Argentine has scored in three of the last four matches and now has 13 goals in 30 appearances this season.

In addition, he has increased his contribution to the team’s attacking build-up: he already has six assists, matching his total for all of last season. Even so, Abel Ferreira made a point of publicly stressing what the No. 42’s main mission is. The coach praised the striker’s progress, but made it clear that he wants the Argentine spending more time inside the box.

If Flaco has been the main presence in the box, Ramón Sosa has become the team’s main outlet. Signed to play out wide, the Paraguayan has started playing more centrally after Vitor Roque’s injury. The change has given Palmeiras’ attack more mobility and increased the team’s ability to break into space.

After the draw against Cerro Porteño in the third round of the Libertadores, Abel had already explained the player’s tactical adjustment.

In Lima, Palmeiras once again showed a recurring problem: a sluggish start. With loose marking and little intensity off the ball, the team struggled to contain Sporting Cristal’s early momentum, as the hosts created the best chances in the opening minutes.

Verdão only managed to settle into the game after the hydration break. From then on, the team moved the ball better and found more space. Arthur nearly opened the scoring with a long-range shot, while Marlon Freitas also threatened.

The improvement paid off in the 32nd minute. Marlon Freitas found Arias on the left, the full-back delivered a perfect cross, and Flaco López arrived from deep to finish first-time and put Palmeiras ahead.

The goal changed the course of the match. More comfortable, Abel Ferreira’s side began to control the game and piled up missed chances before halftime.

At the start of the second half, Palmeiras took advantage of a counterattack to quickly extend the lead. After a move involving Arias and Flaco López, defender Lutiger made a poor deflection and handed the ball right to Ramón Sosa, who finished into the net just five minutes in.

Even without turning its superiority into a rout, Palmeiras controlled most of the second half. When Sporting Cristal improved in the closing stages, Carlos Miguel stepped up once again. Solid in goal, he made important saves and was once again the team’s standout defender.

What now?

With the win, Palmeiras moves to the top of Group F with eight points and takes an important step toward qualification for the round of 16. Sporting Cristal is second with six. The round will be completed on Thursday, when Junior and Cerro Porteño face off in Barranquilla.

Palmeiras’ next match will be on Sunday at 4 p.m. against Remo in Belém in the Brasileirão. In the Libertadores, the team returns to action on May 20 against Cerro Porteño at Nubank Parque.

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