‘Huge defensive display sees Palmeiras through with 10 men’ | OneFootball

Palmeiras reached ten clean sheets in 2026. The number is still not ideal and represents only 38.4% of the team’s matches this season, but the circumstances of the positive result at Allianz Parque are encouraging.

It was the second straight Brazilian Championship match without conceding. Just over a week ago, in the Derby, the team had a numerical advantage. Against Athletico-PR, the scenario was different after center-back Murilo’s (fair) red card.

Palmeiras managed to withstand the pressure from the Paraná side, especially since they were unable to put together any counterattacks. João Martins’ substitutions were positive, and the best player on the pitch was Gustavo Gómez.

In addition to scoring the winning goal, the captain made three interceptions, recovered two balls, blocked two shots, and won two aerial duels, according to SofaScore data. The platform also rated him as the man of the match.

Full-backs perform well defensively

Palmeiras’ defensive solidity in the win also came from the full-backs’ strong defensive display. Arthur returned to the starting lineup on the left side and performed well, especially after the opponent brought on Mendoza as a right wing-back. The youngster was not dribbled past once. The Academy graduate is the best option while Piquerez remains unavailable.

On the other side, the nature of the second half suited Giay. His main strength is defending, and he won five ground duels out of eight contests. The Argentine also recorded two successful tackles and three more clearances. The data is from SofaScore.

Palmeiras’ upcoming matches:

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