Analysis: Palmeiras lose top spot after 19 games, on 2025 pace | OneFootball

Palmeiras drew 0-0 with Botafogo at Nilton Santos and lost the lead in the Brazilian Championship to Flamengo, who beat Remo 1-0 at Mangueirão. The Rio side now has 54 points to Verdão’s 53.

2025 pace and inefficient football

Palmeiras in 2026 looks just like Palmeiras in 2025. That was not a mistake. There are no differences. Replacing the five with a six would only mean one more trip by the Sun around the Earth. Abel Ferreira’s team is steadily following a path similar to last season’s.

The club fights, battles, competes, but reaches the decisive moment and falls apart. Palmeiras creates chances and has volume, but shows no sense of urgency. It shows no desire. And above all, it does not show the necessary intensity after a poor result and after losing the league lead, which had been in the club’s hands for the last 19 rounds.

The performances of Marlon Freitas and Barboza also need to be highlighted. Former Botafogo players, both had a game well below expectations and felt the pressure from the few fans present at Nilton Santos far too much.

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