Palmeiras end run without Abel as lead narrows at top of Brasileirão | OneFootball

Abel Ferreira can return to Palmeiras’ league touchline after Sunday’s match against Remo. According to Globo.com, his seven-match STJD ban is over and the leaders’ advantage has shrunk.

His last league game on five April, a 2-1 win at Bahia in Salvador, put Palmeiras five points clear of then second-placed São Paulo.

Since then, five league games without him brought two wins and three draws, and the lead is now four points. Flamengo beat Grêmio 1-0 in Porto Alegre and have a game in hand, so the gap could drop to one.

The ban applied only to the league. Abel has been involved in their Group F-leading Libertadores run and was present for a 3-0 win over Jacuipense, which put them on course for the Copa do Brasil last 16.

In solidarity, staff skipped some press conferences, including after Corinthians and Athletico Paranaense. Football director Anderson Barros said they disagreed with the ruling, called it arbitrary, and wanted identical standards applied to anyone who targets refereeing or the authorities.

During Abel’s absence, João Martins led the team with Vítor Castanheira assisting. Of 15 league games, eight with Abel delivered seven wins and one draw. The seven without him brought three wins, three draws and one defeat to Vasco, with 17 scored with him and seven without.

He is due back on Saturday against Cruzeiro at 21:00 at Arena Crefisa Barueri. Before that, he will represent Palmeiras on Wednesday in the second leg against Jacuipense in Londrina.

Source: Globo.com