Palmeiras try to hold on to top spot after 19 straight rounds | OneFootball

Palmeiras head into the 26th round of the Brazilian Championship under pressure from a situation they have not faced in months: the possibility of losing the top spot in the competition. Verdão have held first place for 19 consecutive rounds, since the seventh round, but now see Flamengo just one point behind.

Palmeiras have 52 points from 25 matches, with 15 wins, seven draws, and three defeats. Flamengo are right behind with 51 points, also from 25 games.

Rubro-Negro’s push gained momentum after a 2-0 win over Mirassol last Wednesday (2), in a postponed match from the fourth round. With the result, Flamengo reached 51 points and cut the gap to the leaders to just one point.

Palmeiras’ dominance began in the seventh round

Palmeiras started the league trading the lead. Verdão were in first place in the third and fourth rounds, while São Paulo took over the top spot in the fifth and sixth.

From the seventh round onward, however, Palmeiras regained the lead and have not let go of it since. The streak has now reached 19 consecutive rounds, a mark confirmed by ge after Flamengo’s win over Mirassol.

Abel Ferreira’s team also finished the first half of the season on top and with the best campaign in their history in the round-robin era, with 44 points from 19 matches.

Flamengo can take over the lead

The 26th round puts the two main title contenders in action on Sunday (6), and Flamengo could pile pressure on Palmeiras before the leaders even take the field.

Rubro-Negro face Remo at 4 p.m. at Mangueirão. Palmeiras, meanwhile, take on Botafogo at 6:30 p.m. at Nilton Santos Stadium.

The equation is simple: if Flamengo win and Palmeiras fail to win, Rubro-Negro will take over the lead.

Pressure rises before decisive run

The moment makes the clash against Botafogo even more important. Palmeiras go into the match with 52 points and 15 wins, while Flamengo have the best attack in the competition, with 50 goals scored compared to Verdão’s 45.

In addition to the Brasileirão, Palmeiras also have a busy week ahead: after facing Botafogo on Sunday, the team host LDU on Wednesday (9) in the second leg of the Libertadores quarterfinals, and then face São Paulo in the Brazilian Championship.

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