João Martins takes charge at Palmeiras with strong record, Abel suspended | OneFootball

With the suspension of Abel Ferreira, the assistant coach João Martins will be responsible for leading Palmeiras from the sidelines in the last round of the first phase of the Campeonato Paulista. The Verdão faces Guarani this Wednesday at 8:30 PM (Brasília time) at Arena Barueri.

Abel was sent off in the derby against Corinthians at the Neo Química Arena after sarcastically applauding the referee Raphael Claus. On that occasion, Palmeiras won 1-0, with a goal by Flaco López.

Numbers that inspire confidence

Despite the absence of the head coach on the bench, Palmeiras fans have reasons to be confident. João Martins has already led Palmeiras in 29 matches, achieving 16 wins, eight draws, and only five losses. During this period, the team scored 57 goals and conceded 25 — a performance representing over 64% success rate.

Since the arrival of Abel Ferreira's coaching staff, the club's numbers are also impressive: in 406 games, there have been 236 wins, 94 draws, and 76 losses, with 689 goals scored and 330 conceded. This performance has established Palmeiras as one of the most competitive teams in the country in recent years.

Alternative team and focus on overall performance

Already qualified for the next phase of the state championship, Palmeiras is expected to field an alternative lineup. The coaching staff's idea is to preserve starters, observe new options in the squad, and conduct tests with an eye on the rest of the season.

Additionally, Verdão seeks to secure the best overall campaign in the first phase, a factor that could be decisive in knockout matches.

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