Abel faces dilemma in week that could define Palmeiras' season | OneFootball

Abel Ferreira faces a decisive week that could define Palmeiras’ season. The coach must decide whether to field his full starting lineup against Cruzeiro this Sunday, in the 30th round of the Brazilian Championship, risking overloading the players with a third consecutive match, or to rest some athletes with an eye on the return leg against LDU in the Libertadores.

The continental clash, scheduled for next Thursday at Allianz Parque, is crucial. Verdão needs to overturn a three-goal deficit after losing 3-0 in Quito and secure a spot in the Libertadores final.

At the same time, Palmeiras is experiencing a decisive moment in the Brasileirão. Leading with 61 points, Abel Ferreira’s team is ahead of Flamengo only on tiebreakers. Any slip-up against Cruzeiro could cost the team the top spot, depending on Flamengo’s result against Fortaleza this Saturday.

The tight schedule makes Abel’s choice even more complex. If Flamengo loses on Saturday, the coach will have the option to rest starters against Cruzeiro without jeopardizing the lead, preserving strength to attempt a historic comeback in the Libertadores.

If Flamengo wins or draws, however, the decision will be more delicate, requiring a balance between maintaining the lead in the Brazilian league and seeking continental qualification.

The expectation is that Abel will use all available information on the players’ physical performance, Flamengo’s result, and the importance of each competition to devise the best strategy, in a week that could define Palmeiras’ success or failure in 2025.

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