Analysis: Big win boosts confidence for Palmeiras’ reserve side | OneFootball

Abel Ferreira decided to rotate the entire Palmeiras squad with the upcoming Libertadores quarterfinals against River Plate on Wednesday in mind, considered the team’s main match of 2025. That’s why he rested most of the starters in the 4-1 victory over Fortaleza this Saturday (20th) at Allianz Parque.

Even without their main lineup, Verdão dominated the team from Ceará and, except for the end of the first half, had little trouble securing a 4-1 win in a match that was essentially attack versus defense at Allianz Parque.

Practically all ten Palmeiras outfield players played in the attacking half. Even the center-backs, especially in the second half. The strong second half also served to boost the confidence of some players.

Sosa scored his first goal for Palmeiras after 13 matches. Although he was quiet in the first half, he finished off a beautiful long pass from Micael—another player who has faced criticism and who had made a mistake on the opponent’s goal.

Jefté, with an assist, also performed well. The same goes for Raphael Veiga, who is experiencing a dip in form and is returning from injury, but scored his 106th goal for the club with a penalty.

But the night truly belonged to Andreas Pereira. A starter despite having spent little time at the club, he scored two stunning goals after coming on late in the match. His confidence is even higher now, having secured a starting spot against River Plate in the first leg of the Libertadores quarterfinals.

What’s next?

Palmeiras now turns its full attention to the Libertadores. After beating River 2-1 in Argentina, the team will host their opponent at Allianz Parque on Wednesday. Fortaleza, meanwhile, will only play again against Sport in the Brasileirão on Saturday.

Upcoming Palmeiras matches

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