Jardim looks ahead to Palmeiras clash: “We have to play every match to win”

In partnership with

Deus me Dibre

·21 October 2025

Jardim looks ahead to Palmeiras clash: “We have to play every match to win”

After the 1-0 victory over Fortaleza last Saturday (18), coach Leonardo Jardim looked ahead to the next challenge for Cruzeiro, who will face Palmeiras on Sunday (26) at 8:30 PM at Allianz Parque in São Paulo. The match brings together the leader of the Brazilian Championship and the third-placed team, who could close the gap at the top of the table.

Currently with 56 points, Cruzeiro is five behind Palmeiras, who have played one game less — 28 matches. A win on Sunday would reduce the gap to just two points, with eight rounds remaining until the end of the Brasileirão (for Cruzeiro, and nine for Palmeiras), further raising expectations for this decisive clash.

OneFootball Videos

Asked about his approach to the match, Jardim emphasized that the team’s attitude should always be the same, regardless of the opponent.

“Our pressure is always the same: play to win. We have to play every game to win. Whoever works at Cruzeiro, whether it’s against Flamengo away or Palmeiras at home, has to play to win. If the opponent is better, that’s another story, but we have to give our best, like we did against Flamengo at Maracanã. That’s our way of playing. We can’t face Palmeiras and fear the opponent,” he said.

The coach recalled the historic campaign of Jorge Jesus’s Flamengo in 2019, who had 68 points by the 29th round, to further highlight the impressive campaign that Palmeiras is having in this Brasileirão.

“They’re a great opponent, having the best campaign in recent years, with a record number of points. I saw that they’re almost matching Jorge Jesus’s Flamengo in 2019. It’s about respecting them, but also respecting ourselves and our way of playing, preparing the strategy, showing a strong attitude, but never forgetting that the game is won on the pitch.”

The victory over Fortaleza was important for Cruzeiro to end a four-game winless streak in the Brasileirão. According to a projection by the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), the club’s chances of qualifying for the Libertadores are at 99.92%. The team’s main goal is a direct spot in the competition.

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