Analysis: win in Caxias shows Palmeiras’ squad strength and keeps them top | OneFootball

João Linhares

In this 31st round of the Brazilian Championship, Palmeiras demonstrated the strength of their squad even without relying on the full starting lineup. With a mixed team, Abel Ferreira managed to control the game against Juventude at Alfredo Jaconi and secured a 2-0 victory, maintaining the consistency that has been characteristic of the season.

Verdão's performance showed a balance between rotation and efficiency. Bruno Rodrigues opened the scoring in the first half, taking advantage of Raphael Veiga's pass, while Felipe Anderson consolidated the result in the second half with a beautiful individual goal. The team knew how to manage the lead, avoiding risks and controlling the spaces, even against a Juventude that was seeking a comeback.

The mixed lineup reinforces Abel's philosophy: there are no absolute starters, and all players in the squad are important pieces throughout the season. The performance demonstrates that the coach can maintain the standard of play and competitiveness even in matches with recent physical and mental wear, especially after the great comeback against LDU in the Libertadores.

With the triumph, Palmeiras reached 65 points and reclaimed the leadership of the Brasileirão, surpassing Flamengo by just one point. The victory also highlights the squad's depth, the ability to rotate players, and the maintenance of technical level, factors that will be crucial in the final stretch of the season, with simultaneous decisions.

In summary, the match reinforces that Verdão does not rely solely on a starting team: the strength of the group and Abel's tactical planning allow for consistent results, even in the face of an intense schedule and exhausting games.

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