Could Palmeiras go top of the Brasileirão? Maths and scenarios | OneFootball

Palmeiras takes the field this Sunday with the chance to gain more than just three points in the Brazilian Championship. The team led by coach Abel Ferreira could take the lead in the competition if they beat Bahia in a match at Arena Fonte Nova, for the 25th round of the tournament.

The match kicks off at 4 p.m. (Brasília time). However, just winning is not enough for Verdão to reach the top of the table. The team from São Paulo also needs to hope for a Flamengo slip-up.

Palmeiras’ Situation in the Brasileirão

Palmeiras is currently in third place in the standings, with 49 points, having played three games less than Cruzeiro, the runner-up with 50, and one less than the leader Flamengo, who has 51 points. Raposa has already played this round and lost to Vasco, 2-0, at São Januário.

What Does Palmeiras Need to Take the Lead?

To reach the top of the Brasileirão, Palmeiras first needs to beat Bahia by any score. That would take them to 52 points, surpassing the current leader and runner-up, Flamengo (51) and Cruzeiro (50). After that, they will need to root for a Flamengo stumble, as they face Corinthians at 8:30 p.m. at Neo Química Arena.

If the team from Rio loses, they remain at 51 points and would be overtaken by Verdão in points. In case of a draw, they would have the same number of points as Palmeiras, but would still be surpassed by their rival, who would reach 16 wins, one more than Rubro-Negro. Thus, the team from São Paulo would surpass the team from Rio on the first tiebreaker criterion.

In other words, a win for Verdão combined with a loss or draw for Flamengo guarantees the top spot for Abel Ferreira’s team.

Palmeiras’ Upcoming Matches in the Brasileirão

The Alviverde team is defending an 11-match unbeaten streak in the national competition, with eight wins and three draws. After facing Bahia, Palmeiras will host Vasco next week at Allianz Parque.

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