Palmeiras return after win, start prep for Copa do Brasil debut

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Nosso Palestra

·20 April 2026

Palmeiras return after win, start prep for Copa do Brasil debut

Palmeiras returned to training on the morning of this Monday (20) at the Football Academy, just a few hours after the 1-0 win over Athletico-PR at Allianz Parque in the Brazilian Championship. Leading the competition, Verdão has already begun preparations for its Copa do Brasil debut against Jacuipense, scheduled for Thursday (23) at 7:30 p.m., once again at home.

The players who featured for more than 45 minutes against the team from Paraná did recovery work in the gym and in the CT’s recovery and neuroscience departments. The other athletes took part in a training match alongside the Academy youngsters. Left-back Jefté, in physical transition, joined part of the activity, as did forward Paulinho.

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Emiliano speaks!

One of the team’s recent standouts, Uruguayan Emiliano Martínez made his 10th appearance of the season — his fifth as a starter — and celebrated the result earned in what was considered a complicated match, especially after the team had to play with one man fewer throughout the entire second half.

Very happy with the result and with the team’s effort. It was a difficult game, very hard-fought. We had a player sent off, but I think the team knew how to overcome that difficulty. Now we’re enjoying the moment, we needed the win, the three points, and we’re very happy about that.

Martínez is also closing in on a historic mark among the club’s Uruguayans. With 39 wins, he is just one away from tying Ventura Cambon in the ranking of foreign players with the most victories for Palmeiras.

Regularly called up to the Uruguay national team since 2023, the No. 32 highlighted his goal of playing in the next World Cup.

I felt very good yesterday, and I have to thank the Palmeiras staff, because it’s true that I wasn’t getting many minutes, but that wouldn’t be an excuse for me not to be in good physical condition. I truly have the dream this year of going to the World Cup. Getting some minutes, with this level of matches here in Brazil, I believe I can dream about that.

Four-time Copa do Brasil champions, Palmeiras will play in the competition for the 31st time. In 30 previous debuts, they have 27 wins, two draws and just one loss, along with a run of 20 straight victories since 2003. For Martínez, the focus is already on the knockout clash.

The preparation will be like it is for every game, with the same seriousness. That’s what Palmeiras demands: to go into every competition aiming to be champions. It will be the first step toward our goal [in the Copa do Brasil]. Starting today, we’ve already begun preparing for this knockout tie, which is very important for us.