Palmeiras attack hits stride with first-choice XI as Arias beds in and Paulinho nears return | OneFootball

Palmeiras defend top spot in the Campeonato Brasileiro against Fluminense on Wednesday at 21:30, at Arena Crefisa Barueri. According to Globo.com, Abel Ferreira is expected to stick with the side that has lit up their attack.

Across four matches with the preferred XI, against Vitória, Internacional, Corinthians and Capivariano, Palmeiras scored 13 goals, averaging 3.25 per game. Vitor Roque has three, Andreas Pereira, Sosa and Gustavo Gómez have two each, and Murilo, Mauricio, Allan and Flaco López one apiece.

Using that preferred setup, Palmeiras have pushed for greater attacking volume. Even in the draw with Guarani, after first-choice players came on, they finished with 28 chances created. Sosa said the team are executing Abel’s ideas well.

Flaco López and Roque lead the line, with Allan on the right and Mauricio on the left. Sosa, previously mainly a left winger, is being tried closer to goal as cover for the two centre-forwards. Felipe Anderson is fit again, and Arias is seen as a future starter but is still settling.

On Saturday against Capivariano, Arias came on at 33 minutes of the second half and won a penalty that Andreas Pereira converted. He is expected to get more minutes against his former club Fluminense.

After the weekend rout, Abel Ferreira said one player still needed clearance, Paulinho, urging patience as long-term absentees rebuild rhythm. Paulinho is nearing the end of recovery from right leg surgery in July and is expected to start the physical-to-technical transition by early March.

Source: Globo.com