Flamengo v Palmeiras: Lucas Paquetá faces old foe with title at stake after 2018 miss | OneFootball

Flamengo face Palmeiras on Saturday with the title picture echoing 2018, leaders and second split by four points. For Lucas Paquetá, the meeting carries added weight.

According to Globo.com, the fixture revives a painful memory for the midfielder. Back in 2018 Palmeiras topped the table on 62 points with Flamengo on 58, and a Fla win would have trimmed the gap to one, as it could this weekend.

At the Maracanã that year, Palmeiras went ahead through Dudu early in the second half. Flamengo levelled via Colombian Marlos Moreno on 35 minutes of the half, then a minute later Paquetá met a Moreno pass first time but fired over Weverton’s goal. Palmeiras went on to lift the title.

Paquetá left Flamengo at the end of that year for Milan in a 35 million euro deal, about R$ 150 million at the time. He later played for Lyon and West Ham, then returned to the club in early 2026 for 42 million euros, R$ 260 million.

Recently recovered from a left thigh injury and called up by Carlo Ancelotti for Brazil’s World Cup squad, he has 22 appearances and seven goals this season. Saturday offers another chance to add to those numbers against a familiar foe.

Source: Globo.com