Palmeiras back in training, new twist for Flamengo clash

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Nosso Palestra

·16 ottobre 2025

Palmeiras back in training, new twist for Flamengo clash

Palmeiras, leaders of the Brazilian Championship, reported back on Thursday morning (16) at the Football Academy just a few hours after the 5–1 thrashing of Red Bull Bragantino at Allianz Parque. The squad began preparations for the decisive clash with Flamengo, scheduled for Sunday (19), at 4 p.m., at the Maracanã, in the 29th round of the competition.

How was training?

The players who featured for more than 45 minutes followed a recovery regimen in the recovery and neuroscience room, while the others carried out technical activities focused on overlaps, crosses, and finishing, in addition to small-sided games.

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The good news of the day was the progress of right-back Khellven, who is recovering from a foot contusion and took part in the full training session.

Over to Flaco!

One of the standouts in the previous match, forward Flaco López scored the fourth goal in the Verdão’s win and is enjoying his best spell in a Palmeiras shirt. The Argentine has reached 23 goals in the 2025 season, surpassing the 22 he scored in 2024, and has established himself as one of the club’s top scorers this century — behind only Keirrison (24 in 2009), Barcos (28 in 2012), Vágner Love (28 in 2004) and Alex Mineiro (37 in 2008).

It’s a moment of great happiness. I had spoken with the staff about the possibility of coming back and taking part in the game. I said I was ready and that I wanted to help my teammates. I was already prepared, and we do a lot of work here to withstand many games. I’m very happy to be back to help my teammates and also very happy about what happened with the national team game. I was able to play, make my debut, and I enjoyed it a lot. They were very good days with friends like Aníbal; I was happy for his game too, he’s an amazing guy. They were very intense days, but very enjoyable.

The number 42 also made a point of praising the club’s infrastructure and flight logistics, which ensured his recovery and that of the other players called up by their national teams.

Sometimes we stop to think and it’s a spectacle. The way Palmeiras treats the players and the effort Palmeiras made for us to arrive in time for this game was incredible. This speaks to the greatness that Palmeiras represents. We returned with other teammates from the national team who were going to England, and they were very surprised when they saw that we were also going to return on a chartered flight straight to the game. This shows the greatness of the work Palmeiras has been doing for years. This year as well, the club has been working hard to achieve what it’s achieving and to have the players in the best possible condition and always available for the coach.

Since the 2021 CONMEBOL Libertadores final, won by Palmeiras, the two rivals have faced each other ten times, with balanced numbers: two wins for Palmeiras — including the 2023 Supercopa do Brasil final and the second leg of the 2024 Copa do Brasil —, five draws in the league, and three Flamengo victories, the most recent in the first half of 2025.

For Flaco, the clash at the Maracanã will be another opportunity for Verdão to show their strength and maintain the lead in the league.

It will be a beautiful game for the fans to watch. We’ve been preparing in the best way for this type of match, to show everything we’ve worked on, everything we’re progressing in, and also to show why our team has this hunger to win titles. I think it will be a key game for us, to show that and to stay top of the table. We’ll go there and, God willing, we’ll come back with three more points.

What now?

With the win, Palmeiras move to 61 points. The team remains top, followed by Flamengo on 58 — both with 27 games played. The teams face each other at the Maracanã next Sunday (18), at 4 p.m. (Brasília time).

Palmeiras’ upcoming matches

Flamengo vs. Palmeiras – Brazilian Championship – 10/19 – 6:30 p.m. (Brasília time)
LDU vs. Palmeiras – CONMEBOL Libertadores – 10/23 – 9:30 p.m. (Brasília time)

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