Lomba's form stands out as Carlos Miguel struggles for a run at Palmeiras | OneFootball

The season began with a well-defined scenario in goal for Palmeiras. While Carlos Miguel naturally assumed the spotlight as the new starter after Weverton’s departure, Marcelo Lomba, at 39 years old, regained some space, but the recent numbers of the two goalkeepers reveal a significant difference in performance.

Lomba fluctuating

Marcelo Lomba was used this season by Abel Ferreira, but he was unable to provide the security the team needed. The experienced goalkeeper played in two matches in 2026, and both ended in defeats for Verdão, including the 4-0 thrashing suffered against Novorizontino.

Lomba’s matches as Palmeiras’ starter in 2026

Adding up both matches, Lomba conceded five goals in 180 minutes, an average that highlights the team’s defensive instability when he was on the field. Although he is not solely responsible, his performance fuels the discussion about the squad’s depth in the position, which suffered with the departure of idol Weverton.

Owner of the position?

In contrast, Carlos Miguel has put together an initial run that inspires confidence. The goalkeeper has played five games this season, conceding only three goals: one against São Paulo in the 3-1 win in the Paulistão, and two against Atlético-MG in the 2-2 draw in the Brasileirão opener. In the other matches, the keeper kept a clean sheet.

The comparison also gains weight due to recent historical context. Weverton, the undisputed starter since 2018, left Palmeiras at the beginning of this year to play for Grêmio, ending a cycle of eight seasons as a key figure in the most successful period in the club’s history.

Outlook for the rest of the season

The trend is for Carlos Miguel to remain the main choice in goal for the Verdão, while Lomba continues as an occasional alternative. At 39, the goalkeeper is well-liked by the squad and has been praised several times by Abel Ferreira.

In a press conference, the Portuguese manager did not rule out the need to sign a new goalkeeper to replace Weverton. “I’ve already told you that rice and beans is very simple and feeds a lot of people. So, you don’t have to be very smart to figure out which players have left and which ones we need. Just do the math. Look at the players: who left? Goalkeeper, center-back, winger, defensive midfielder… and do the math afterwards. But that responsibility isn’t mine.”

Palmeiras’ next match

Match: Palmeiras vs. Vitória Competition: Campeonato Brasileiro (2nd round) Date and time: February 4, 2026 (Wednesday), at 9:30 PM (Brasília time) Venue: Arena Crefisa Barueri, in Barueri (SP)

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