Who starts? Palmeiras face selection dilemmas for the Libertadores final | OneFootball

This Saturday, Palmeiras will face the most important challenge of the current season: a showdown against Flamengo in the grand final of the Copa Libertadores da América. The match kicks off at 6 PM (Brasília time), at the Estadio Monumental U, in Lima, the capital of Peru.

The Alviverde arrives at the final amid a negative streak of five games without a win, with three losses and two draws. Additionally, coach Abel Ferreira is dealing with some dilemmas in assembling Palmeiras' lineup. He will have three more days to decide on the ideal starting eleven.

It is a fact that the coach may have hinted at the possible lineup for the final by resting exactly 11 players in the match against Grêmio. Goalkeeper Carlos Miguel, full-backs Piquerez and Khellven, defenders Bruno Fuchs, Gustavo Gómez, and Murilo, midfielders Allan, Andreas Pereira, and Raphael Veiga, along with forwards Flaco López and Vitor Roque joined the squad later, but only Piquerez, Andreas, and Allan played the game.

Even so, three days is still a long time when it comes to a Copa Libertadores final, especially considering all the variables. The main doubts for Palmeiras, for instance, may revolve around two specific areas: the midfield and the attack.

The Dilemmas of Palmeiras

The first dilemma for Palmeiras is right away about the formation to be used by the team in the final. Abel Ferreira might choose to maintain the game strategy, which is more likely given the context of a final, but he could also revert to a three-defender system, as he has done throughout the season.

In the midfield, the main doubt revolves around the position of the first defensive midfielder. Aníbal Moreno has made decisive mistakes in Palmeiras' games this year. In the second leg of the Copa do Brasil round of 16 against Corinthians, he was sent off 15 minutes into the first half for elbowing José Martínez. Against Flamengo in the Brasileirão, he made an error in ball handling that led to the third goal for the opposition.

Aníbal was even a starter against Grêmio and committed a penalty on Carlos Vinícius. Another option would be to field Emiliano Martínez, who is also not in good form at this late stage of the year. The most viable alternative, therefore, might be using Bruno Fuchs as a midfielder, which Abel has done this season.

Bruno Fuchs was improvised in the role during a 4-1 victory over Juventude in the Brazilian Championship, due to the high number of absences in Palmeiras. The option pleased Abel due to the player's calmness and quality in ball distribution. Moreover, being a defender by nature, he brings more defensive characteristics to the midfield, allowing more freedom for the second midfielder.

And the Attack?

In the lineup indicated by Abel by resting players against Grêmio, Raphael Veiga and Allan would start playing on the flanks in the attack. However, both are left-footed and prefer to play on the right, but one of them would need to play on the left, which might not be favorable in a decisive context.

If Abel opts to field Veiga or Allan on the right side, there are two options for the left side of the attack: Felipe Anderson and Ramón Sosa. Number 7 is not in good form, but the coach has shown trust in the forward. He was even a starter and played the full 90 minutes in the loss to Grêmio.

On the other hand, Ramón Sosa was one of Abel Ferreira's bets for the great comeback against LDU-EQU at Allianz Parque in the second leg of the Libertadores semifinal. The Paraguayan opened the scoring for Verdão and was crucial for the result.

It remains to be seen which will be Palmeiras' starting team for the grand Copa Libertadores final. The fact is that Abel will have three days to make the final adjustments before the final.

What's at Stake in the Libertadores Final

Palmeiras and Flamengo are competing not only for the coveted Libertadores trophy but also for the symbolic title of the most successful team in the competition in Brazilian football. One of the two will become the first club to win the intercontinental competition four times, surpassing São Paulo as well.

Both squads are already in Lima for the grand Copa Libertadores final. The two teams will train on Thursday and Friday for the big match. Coaches Abel Ferreira and Filipe Luís, along with a player from each squad, will also give a pre-match press conference.

Upcoming Matches for Palmeiras

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