Palmeiras in top form ahead of big Copa do Brasil test | OneFootball

Palmeiras played excellent football to defeat Internacional, with great ease, at Allianz Parque, by 4 to 1. Hat trick by Vitor Roque and only 40 minutes needed to dispatch the team from the south. This isn’t the first thrashing by this brand new team, but it’s proof that they are the most solid team of 2025.

There have been many changes in this squad, and it took us a while (myself included, the author of this text) to notice the process. Heroes left, some unwanted as well. Many new faces became part of the group, and time—the most difficult chemical factor to manage—also had its effects, as seen in the transformation of Flaco López, from failure to “star,” a compliment given by his partner in crime, Vitor Roque.

Andreas Pereira played only 20 minutes, Raphael Veiga had a little more than that, after a long period of inactivity—and he is an absolute idol of this generation, still only 30 years old, with much to offer. The talented Bruno Rodrigues managed to overcome 600 days of physical ordeal to play football and, fate and his gods willing, with health. No one is in Palmeiras’ medical department on September 14, 2025.

Paulinho is still recovering physically after surgery, and has a chance for a last dance before Christmas. Verdão’s tanks are full, rested, and confident, ready to go, to travel to Buenos Aires and challenge River Plate on their turf, often hostile and pyrotechnic, but not enough to contest what this Palmeiras team can play at their best.

If context wins games, Abel and his men have very low odds to advance in the Libertadores and continue with the best and strongest campaign this club has ever imposed in a national points-based tournament. The numerical aberrations of the leader and runner-up only reinforce how far both are from the rest.

May the emotional side hold up and not falter, because the football has been good.

Palmeiras’ Upcoming Matches

Palmeiras vs Fortaleza – Brasileirão – 09/20 (Saturday), 9:00 PM (Brasília time)

River Plate vs Palmeiras – Libertadores – 09/17 (Wednesday), 9:30 PM (Brasília time)

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