Copa do Brasil done, Palmeiras switch focus to Brasileirão and Libertadores | OneFootball

Advancing past Santos put Palmeiras back among the final four in the Copa do Brasil, but it also opened up an unusual gap until their next commitment in the competition. After managing the advantage built in the first leg and sealing qualification with a 0-0 draw at Vila Belmiro, Verdão can now “forget” about the Copa do Brasil for nearly two months.

The semifinal against Vasco is scheduled for November 1 and 8, with the home venues and kickoff times still to be set by the CBF. The matchup will be a first in the competition’s history.

Until then, however, the schedule will give Abel Ferreira’s team no rest. Quite the opposite. The period will be marked by two fronts that could decide much of Palmeiras’ fate this season: the race for the Brazilian Championship title and the push toward the Libertadores final.

Libertadores takes immediate priority

The first major task comes as early as next week. Palmeiras return to the field in the Libertadores to face LDU Quito in the quarterfinals, but first they have an important clash against Botafogo in the Brazilian Championship on Sunday (6) in Rio de Janeiro.

The first leg is set for September 9 at Nubank Parque, while the return leg will be played on September 16 at Rodrigo Paz Delgado Stadium in Quito.

The continental competition will have a decisive run in the following weeks. The quarterfinals will take place between September 8 and 17, while the semifinals are scheduled for October. The final is set for November 28, in Montevideo.

In other words: by the time Palmeiras and Vasco finally meet in the Copa do Brasil semifinal, the Libertadores picture will already be completely settled. Verdão will already know whether they have qualified for the continental final or fallen short.

Brazilian Championship enters decisive stage

Alongside the Libertadores, the Brazilian Championship is also starting to take on an increasingly decisive shape. Palmeiras head into the final stretch still fighting directly for first place. Flamengo, after beating Mirassol, cut the gap to just one point.

The CBF has already detailed rounds 27 to 30 of the league, with matches spread across September and October. Round 27 will take place between September 11 and 14, round 28 on the 19th and 20th, round 29 on October 7 and 8, and round 30 between October 10 and 12.

In practice, Palmeiras will have to balance the wear and tear caused by travel and the Libertadores knockout rounds with the need to keep picking up points in the domestic league.

And there is an important detail in the planning: by the time the Copa do Brasil semifinal arrives, the Brazilian Championship will already be in its final stretch. Only five rounds will remain before the competition ends.

November could bring all the answers

When Palmeiras face Vasco again in November, the season picture will be much clearer. The club could go into the matchup fighting for the Brazilian title, qualified for the Libertadores final or, in the best-case scenario, still alive in all three competitions.

After eliminating Santos convincingly over the 180-minute tie — a 3-0 win in the first leg and a goalless draw at Vila — Palmeiras bought themselves time to focus their attention on the competitions that allow no margin for error in the short term.

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