Mauricio and Sosa shine for Palmeiras as Abel Ferreira hails form and keeps López and Roque waiting | OneFootball

Mauricio and Sosa are in outstanding form for Palmeiras after the World Cup, seizing their chance while starters Flaco López and Vitor Roque wait on the bench. Abel Ferreira has said 2026 is his strongest squad since arriving, and the attack shows why.

According to Globo.com, Mauricio and Sosa have seized their chance in recent weeks. The pair have averaged one goal contribution per game and figured in eight of Palmeiras’ 11 goals, with Mauricio scoring four and Sosa adding two goals and two assists.

Ferreira has combined load management with performance, keeping Roque, recently back from injury, and López, the last to report after the tournament, as options. He praised their impact, insisted wide players must defend, cited Spain as a model, and said everyone from goalkeeper to centre forward must align. He added that FIFA only lets him play 11, otherwise he would keep all four forwards on the pitch.

Palmeiras face Fortaleza at Arena Pantanal on Wednesday at 21:30 to decide their Copa do Brasil progress, after Fortaleza sold home advantage to Cuiabá. With a good lead, Ferreira may rotate, with López a candidate to start for rhythm, while Roque is handled more cautiously. Final decisions will follow Tuesday’s training before the trip to Cuiabá.

Across the season, Mauricio has eight goals and two assists in 34 games. Sosa has 33 appearances, nine goals and seven assists. At the World Cup, Mauricio reached the knockouts, scored against the United States and converted in the shootout during Paraguay’s dramatic win over Germany, while Sosa played twice in the group stage.

Source: Globo.com

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”