From top to pressure: Palmeiras lose ground to Flamengo after World Cup | OneFootball

The pause in the Brazilian Championship for the 2026 World Cup marked a turning point in the race between Palmeiras and Flamengo. When the competition was halted, Verdão was leading with 41 points, compared to 34 for Rubro-Negro, a seven-point advantage.

Since the league resumed, however, the situation has changed significantly.

In the stretch after the World Cup, Flamengo picked up 26 of the 33 points available, a 78.8% rate. Palmeiras, meanwhile, managed only 16 of the 30 points at stake, a 53.3% return.

The difference in performance helps explain how Flamengo not only erased the seven-point deficit, but also took over the lead.

Flamengo accelerate, Palmeiras lose momentum

Before the break, Palmeiras were enjoying an outstanding campaign: 41 points from 18 rounds, with only one defeat. Flamengo had 34 points from 17 matches, as they had a game in hand.

After the league resumed, Rubro-Negro kept up a pace close to that of a title contender, while Palmeiras began dropping points along the way.

The gap became even more evident in the following rounds. In the 26th round, for example, Flamengo beat Remo 1-0 and moved into first place with 54 points, while Palmeiras were held to a goalless draw by Botafogo and stayed on 53.

In the 28th round, the contrast appeared again: Palmeiras drew 0-0 with Grêmio, reaching 57 points, while Flamengo beat Red Bull Bragantino 2-1 and opened up a three-point lead at the top, with 60.

Top-six form

Palmeiras’ 53.3% return in the post-World Cup period represents a considerable drop compared to the pace they showed in the first half of the league campaign.

In practice, it is a level consistent with teams fighting near the top of the table, but far from the rate needed to sustain a title challenge in such a balanced league.

Flamengo, on the other hand, have won nearly eight out of every ten possible points since the restart and turned a seven-point deficit into a three-point lead.

The numbers that changed the race

Before the World Cup:

After the World Cup:

After the 28th round:

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