Bruno Rodrigues eyes starting spot with Palmeiras missing key men | OneFootball

Coach Abel Ferreira has a puzzle to solve as he puts together his lineup to face Juventude during the FIFA international break. Bruno Rodrigues, who is looking to establish himself in the team after a series of knee injuries, emerges as a candidate to be a starter in the Palmeiras attack, which will be without the duo Flaco-Roque for the match.

Palmeiras and Juventude face each other this Saturday, in the 12th round of the Brazilian Championship. This delayed round was originally scheduled for June but was postponed due to Palmeiras’ trip to compete in the Club World Cup in the United States.

Bruno Rodrigues faces tough competition

Flaco López and Vitor Roque have been the starting duo in Palmeiras’ attack. However, against Juventude, Flaco will be serving the Argentina national team, while Vitor Roque will be serving a suspension due to accumulated yellow cards. Both are in good form, making it difficult for their teammates who also want to get minutes on the pitch.

Still ahead of Bruno Rodrigues are the other wingers Facundo Torres and Ramón Sosa, who have had more opportunities than him in recent games. The number 11 is looking to reestablish himself in the team after dealing with two serious knee injuries that kept him sidelined for over a year.

Bruno Rodrigues became available to Abel Ferreira again on September 13, in the 4-1 win over Internacional. On that occasion, he came on in the 35th minute of the second half, replacing Vitor Roque. After that, he remained on the bench for four consecutive games and returned to action against Vasco, when Verdão won 3-0. In that game, he came on a bit earlier, at the 31st minute, again replacing the number 9.

Forward had a start hampered by injuries and is trying to prove himself

Bruno Rodrigues joined Palmeiras as a reinforcement for 2024. That season, he played only two matches, just one as a starter. In the latter, he suffered a right knee injury and underwent an arthroscopy that kept him out for about four months.

When he was close to returning, he suffered a more serious injury in a training match: he ruptured the patellar tendon in his left knee. He underwent surgery in May 2024 and only returned to play in September of this year.

Palmeiras’ situation in the Brazilian Championship

Next Palmeiras match

Palmeiras vs. Juventude (12th round of the Brasileirão) Date and time: October 11, 2025 (Saturday), at 7:00 p.m. (Brasília time) Venue: Allianz Parque, in São Paulo (SP)

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