Abel makes only one change for first time as Palmeiras beat LDU 1-0 | OneFootball

Abel made only one substitution as Palmeiras beat LDU 1-0 in the Libertadores quarter-final first leg on Wednesday, swapping Vitor Roque for Heittor 33 minutes into the second half. He kept the rest of the side on until the end.

According to Globo.com, this was a first during his tenure while he was in the dugout. The only other one-sub match in his time came on 6 December 2021, a 0-0 draw with Athletico-PR, when Paulo Victor Gomes led an under-20 team after the Libertadores title and also made a single change.

Abel still had nine outfield options, Khellven, Artur, Fuchs, Emiliano Martínez, Larson, Luis Pacheco, Mauricio, Felipe Anderson and Erick Belé. He said he chose not to break the team’s rhythm against LDU’s 5-3-2 low block, feeling Palmeiras created enough and did not need further changes.

Vitor Roque reported cramp from so much running and said he was fine afterwards. That prompted the only change.

Asked if the move was a message to the board after Allan’s sale to Manchester City and the absence of a like-for-like forward, Abel dismissed that, saying he speaks directly with Barros and Leila.

Defender Barboza endorsed the stance, saying players stay on until they cannot, with only Vitor Roque asking to come off and no one else flagging issues. He added, jokingly, that despite fatigue he would never depart just for tiredness, insisting a centre-back does not do that.

Source: Globo.com

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