From ‘mini setback’ to a chance in Quito: Bruno Fuchs steps up at Palmeiras | OneFootball

Bruno Fuchs got another opportunity in the Palmeiras starting lineup just ahead of one of the most important matches of the season. The center-back started the derby against São Paulo last Saturday (12) and delivered a solid performance in the 2–0 win at Nubank Parque. Now, with Gustavo Gómez suspended, Fuchs emerges as one of the main options to start against LDU on Wednesday (16) in Quito.

The possibility of Fuchs taking the spot in Ecuador is the result of a period in which the defender had to deal with physical issues and an appendicitis surgery. After the break for the World Cup, the center-back had few opportunities and even went nearly three months without playing.

A spell of “bad luck”

João Martins himself had already commented on the period Fuchs was going through and described the string of problems as a spell of “bad luck” after the World Cup.

The defender had finished the first half of the season as an important option in the squad, but after the schedule resumed, he had to deal with physical problems. In July, he underwent appendicitis surgery, a procedure carried out without complications. The initial expectation was for him to be sidelined for two to four weeks. In addition, Palmeiras signed Alexander Barboza.

The recovery caused Fuchs to lose ground right during a decisive stretch of the schedule. He returned to training in August, initially doing fitness transition work before being reintegrated into activities with the rest of the squad.

Only nine minutes after the World Cup

Before the derby against São Paulo, the center-back had played only nine minutes in the previous three months. That spell of inactivity began after the last match before the World Cup, against Chapecoense, on May 31.

The only time he managed to get back on the field during that stretch was in the second leg of the Copa Libertadores round of 16 against Cerro Porteño in Paraguay. Fuchs came on in the closing minutes and was on the field for only nine minutes.

Gómez out opens the door

The opportunity became even more likely after Gustavo Gómez received his third yellow card in the first leg against LDU and was suspended for the return leg.

The captain is one of Palmeiras’ main defensive leaders, and his absence forces Abel Ferreira to find a new center-back pairing. Fuchs appears to be the natural candidate for the spot, especially after returning to the starting lineup in the derby.

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