Palmeiras begin 18-game, two-month sprint before World Cup pause | OneFootball

Palmeiras have embarked on a gruelling two-month run of 18 matches up to the World Cup pause, starting with a 2-1 win over Grêmio at Arena Crefisa Barueri.

According to Globo.com, there will be nine games in April and nine in May across the Brasileirão, Copa do Brasil and the Libertadores. Palmeiras lead on 22 points, three clear of Fluminense.

The cups bring long trips, with Libertadores dates in Cartagena and Asunción, and a Copa do Brasil tie in Londrina against Jacuipense. Early May features Sporting Cristal in Lima, then Remo in Pará, before Jacuipense in Paraná, more than 5,000 kilometres across those three games.

Before that, five straight fixtures in São Paulo state could ease the load, even with away games at Corinthians and Red Bull Bragantino. Staff judge the schedule tight, travel a concern, with plans to assess players day to day.

Five players are with the health and performance unit: Piquerez after ankle surgery, Jefté a right thigh injury, and Paulinho, Figueiredo and Vitor Roque in reconditioning. Flaco López and Gustavo Gómez have heavy minutes and may be rested, and both are expected to play at the World Cup for Argentina and Paraguay.

The 2026 squad, strengthened by Marlon Freitas and Jhon Arias, now faces a major examination before the domestic pause from 30 May to late July. Next up is Bahia on Sunday at 19:30 at Arena Fonte Nova, after which the squad travel straight to Colombia to open the Libertadores against Junior Barranquilla.

Source: Globo.com