After breaking his duck, Arias chases first derby goal for Palmeiras | OneFootball

Jhon Arias has finally broken his duck in a Palmeiras shirt. The forward found the net for the first time and helped Verdão defeat Botafogo 2-1 last Wednesday at Allianz Parque, in a match valid for the seventh round of the Brazilian Championship.

Scoring his first goal for Palmeiras was a personal mission for Arias. It’s no wonder he took off on his own with the ball, broke into the box and, despite having passing options, chose to go for goal.

“I really had this mission to score, to get this goal. I saw myself in a one-on-one opportunity, I had passing options, but inside the box, it’s hard to explain the feeling when you’re face to face with the goal [laughs],” the player said in the mixed zone after the match.

(Photo: Cesar Greco/Palmeiras)

The goal was crucial for Palmeiras, who came out victorious in the match. Beyond that, coach Abel Ferreira believes the performance could be fundamental in giving the Colombian more confidence as he adapts to his new club.

“If the players are here, it’s because they’re good. It’s just that some adapt faster, others find their best form before others. I often use Veiga as an example, how his journey was at Palmeiras. Flaco’s example, too. If we hadn’t, by the end of the first year we would have let him go. But I believe in work, in the players’ potential,” said the coach in a press conference.

“I’m happy for Arias, because it also gives him confidence. The player hasn’t forgotten how to play. He’s still adapting to the club, to the methods, to a different city. When the president signed him, I felt much more at ease and started sleeping a little better. Very happy for him, because it’s good for him and for us,” he added.

Chasing his first goal in derbies

Now, Arias is looking for his first goal in derbies for Palmeiras. The Choque-Rei will be only the second derby for the forward in the green and white shirt.

Arias’ first derby after joining Palmeiras was precisely against São Paulo, in the semifinal of the Campeonato Paulista. On that occasion, the Colombian was brought on by Abel Ferreira only in the second half and ended up not scoring.

The scenario could be different this Saturday, even though the opponent is the same. Arias is expected to start for Palmeiras in his second Choque-Rei and is aiming for his first goal against one of São Paulo’s main rivals.

Situation in the standings

The derby between Palmeiras and São Paulo is worth the lead in the Brazilian Championship. Verdão overtook their rivals in the last round and sit at the top of the table with 16 points. Tricolor have the same number of points, but are behind on tiebreakers.

This will be the third derby between the teams in 2025. In the previous two, Alviverde came out on top, with 3-1 and 2-1 wins, both in the Paulistão.

“I think the recent matches don’t mean much. A derby is always lived and breathed differently. It’s about the lead. It’s a match apart. Whether it’s for a coke or anything else, it’s a game we experience differently. It’s also important for the fans, because it’s the last game before the FIFA break and we’ll go a while without matches, so the memory lasts a bit longer,” projected Arias.

Upcoming Palmeiras matches

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