On his first start, Andreas Pereira adds a touch of class to Palmeiras | OneFootball

Palmeiras' 2-1 victory over River Plate in Argentina, during the quarter-finals of the Copa Libertadores, marked a special moment for Andreas Pereira: his first game as a starter wearing the green and white jersey. And the midfielder did not disappoint.

With active participation in the offensive build-up, solid numbers, and the personality to command the midfield in a high-stakes match, the number 8 was one of the standout players. No surprise for a player with extensive experience in competitive European football.

Andreas Pereira's Numbers

According to SofaScore data, Andreas had 39 actions with the ball, was directly involved in play creation, and provided 1 assist for Gustavo Gómez's goal, which opened the scoring at the Monumental de Núñez. Additionally, he recorded 2 key passes, was efficient on set pieces, and showed precision: he completed 2 crosses in 2 attempts and completed 2 of the 3 long passes he attempted.

In attack, he took one shot on goal, posing a threat to Armani, and physically, he was also present: he won 2 of the 5 ground duels and had 100% success in the air, with 2 victories in 2 aerial duels.

Promising Future

For a first game as a starter, Andreas demonstrated not only technical quality but also the confidence to assert himself in a hostile environment, in front of more than 80,000 rival fans. His debut reinforces the idea that he can be a valuable addition to Abel Ferreira's midfield, offering adaptability in different roles, as well as set-piece skills, game vision, and attacking presence.

The trend is that Andreas will gain even more space in the team as he adapts to Palmeiras' playing style, especially in high-level matches like the Libertadores. If his debut as a starter was a trial by fire, the midfielder passed with flying colors.

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