Palmeiras unrecognisable, tactics fail, G-6 curse continues | OneFootball

A pattern that has become routine for Palmeiras fans in recent years. Palmeiras faced their latest challenge against a team in the G6 of the 2025 Série A of the Brazilian Championship this Sunday (9), against Mirassol, and once again failed to win.

Out of the 30 points contested against G-6 teams in 2025, Palmeiras accumulated only six – just a 20% success rate. There were six losses, three draws, and only one victory, which came against Botafogo, the sixth-placed team, in Rio. The team from São Paulo lost both matches against Flamengo and Bahia, and managed only a draw against Cruzeiro and Mirassol.

The 2-1 defeat this Sunday at Maião, in Mirassol, allows Flamengo to catch up with Palmeiras at the top of the table. Now, both teams have 68 points, with Palmeiras holding the advantage due to the number of victories. This marks the end of the three-point cushion built by Abel Ferreira’s team in recent rounds.

But anyone who watched the match did not see a performance worthy of a leader—far from it. The home team dominated the action from the first half, showing no fear of Verdão and living up to their unbeaten record at home.

The team from the interior of São Paulo opened the scoring in the very first minute, after winning the ball in midfield. Mirassol advanced with Gabriel, who shot between Carlos Miguel’s legs.

Even when Palmeiras improved in the match midway through the first half, pressing higher and even making attacking runs, Mirassol maintained their intensity. Vitor Roque scored a beautiful bicycle kick goal, but still in the first half, the home team regained the lead with a goal after a cross from Reinaldo on a throw-in.

In the second half, Palmeiras looked like a different team, but still far from playing good football. Abel Ferreira practically went “all in,” making more offensive changes, bringing on Veiga and Maurício, along with Sosa, who had already come on at halftime, Flaco, and Roque.

Abel pushed even harder in attack, bringing on Bruno Rodrigues for Andreas. Only Maurício and Veiga remained in Palmeiras’ midfield, along with the defenders.

Despite a team made up almost entirely of attacking players, it was Gustavo Gomez who appeared as a center forward, highlighting the team’s tactical disarray and their insistence on crosses—almost all of them off target. Good news for Mirassol’s defenders, who cleared everything. At the end of the match, the crowd that packed the Maião chanted “olé.”

What now?

Even with the defeat, Palmeiras remains at the top of the Brasileirão. Abel Ferreira’s team is stuck at 68 points, saw Flamengo catch up, but stays in first place due to having one more victory than the team from Rio.

Palmeiras returns to the field next Saturday (15), when Verdão faces Santos at Vila Belmiro, at 9 pm (Brasília time) in a rescheduled match from the 13th round of the Brazilian Championship.

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