Palmeiras assistant updates Paulinho and Vitor Roque fitness after 2-1 win over Grêmio | OneFootball

Palmeiras beat Grêmio 2-1 at Arena Barueri on Thursday as the Campeonato Brasileiro resumed after the international break. Assistant coach Vitor Castanheira provided an update on absentees Paulinho and Vitor Roque.

According to Nosso Palestra, Vitor Roque has been dealing with an ankle problem since the Paulista semi-final and did not make the bench against Grêmio. Castanheira said his recovery is being assessed daily and they do not yet know if he will travel for the Bahia match.

Paulinho has been out for nine months with a right-leg injury, his second in less than two years, and despite previously eyeing a post-break return he remains sidelined. Castanheira declined to set a date, saying the forward is increasing his workload and will rejoin when the staff consider him ready.

He also noted a dip in the team’s physical output after the break with players returning from national teams. A tight schedule and long journeys, he said, carry risks and can prevent players from maintaining peak fitness.

The win keeps Palmeiras clear at the top of the Brasileiro on 22 points from nine games, with Fluminense on 19 and Bahia on 17. Abel Ferreira’s side visit Salvador on Sunday for the 10th round, kick-off 19:30 Brasília time.

Source: Nosso Palestra