Palmeiras line-up: Abel Ferreira plans changes for Chapecoense clash

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·29 maggio 2026

Palmeiras line-up: Abel Ferreira plans changes for Chapecoense clash

Having qualified for the CONMEBOL Libertadores round of 16 after a 4-1 win over Junior Barranquilla-COL on Thursday night (28) at the Allianz Parque, Palmeiras returned to training on Friday morning (29) at the Academia de Futebol and began preparations for the clash against Chapecoense, scheduled for Sunday (31) at 4 p.m. at the green-and-white arena, in the 18th round of the Brazilian Championship.

Top of the national competition with 38 points, Verdão held technical activities under Abel Ferreira’s coaching staff. Without Gustavo Gómez, Ramón Sosa, Mauricio, Jhon Arias, Flaco López, Giay and Emi Martínez — released to join their respective national teams — as well as the starters, who did recovery work in the recovery and neuroscience center, the rest of the squad took part in specific training involving build-up play from the back, marking, and creating moves in tight spaces.

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The main updates involved center-backs Benedetti and Bruno Fuchs. Benedetti began the physical transition process after suffering a sprain in his right ankle, while Fuchs trained fully with the group.

Lomba speaks!

After the activities, goalkeeper Marcelo Lomba highlighted the strength of the green-and-white squad in maintaining its level even with changes to the team. The keeper is expected to start on Sunday due to Carlos Miguel’s suspension. Andreas Pereira and Giay are also serving automatic suspensions for an accumulation of yellow cards.

It’s an important match, like all the others, especially when you’re at the top of the table. At this moment, when we’ll have some changes, we have to believe in the strength of our work, in the consistency of our day-to-day routine and our preparation. The group is ready, we’ve been training exhaustively. We still need to find out which players are going to play, but we already know what Abel asks of us, we’ve known each other for a long time, and several players are always getting minutes. We have to go in focused, and I’m sure that physically and in terms of desire we’ll be at the highest level to face Chapecoense.

The goalkeeper also stressed that the squad is fully focused on securing another win before the break for the World Cup.

Total focus on this match, we’re not thinking about anything else. Ever since we secured our qualification in the Libertadores, our total focus has been on Chapecoense. It’s a very important match, and they are three valuable points for us to finish this stretch on top and with confidence as well. After that there will be a long break, and we’ll be able to prepare again, practically like a preseason. In my mind and in the minds of all the players, the Chapecoense match is our only focus. We’re going after the three points to head into this break with a good advantage.

Lastly, Marcelo Lomba commented on the players called up to represent their national teams and highlighted the group’s pride in those call-ups.

It was a huge joy and a great reward to see our teammates able to fulfill this dream. Palmeiras comes out of these call-ups even stronger, and we’ve been part of this journey with them up to now. Each of them has written a beautiful story, and I’m sure they’ll be cheering for us and following us as well. They are part of this here. And we’ll be rooting for them and for us to do our job well and keep moving forward on this path.

What now?

After qualifying for the Libertadores round of 16, Palmeiras says goodbye to the players called up for the World Cup. So far, Jhon Arias and Flaco López have been called up. Emiliano Martínez, Piquerez (already with the national team), Maurício, Ramón Sosa and Gustavo Gómez, for Uruguay and Paraguay respectively, are awaiting the call.

This Sunday (31), Verdão returns to the field against Chapecoense at 4 p.m. (Brasília time) in an important Brazilian Championship match.

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