Analysis: Palmeiras takes fifth place and fights for the title thanks to Endrick’s talent and the solidity of the toughest | palm trees

Watch coach Abel Ferreira’s press conference after Palmeiras’ victory

After the historic comeback against Botafogo itself on Wednesday and missing Gustavo Gómez and Murilo, the team’s foundations, Verdão went to Arena Barueri with a task that was not simple: beating a complicated opponent after experiencing its peak three days earlier in the Engineering.

If there was any doubt as to whether Palmeiras would start at a slower pace, it was dispelled in the first few minutes. With Marcos Rocha and Naves forming the defense trio with Luan and the rest of the lineup the same as before, Abel’s team started on top of Furacão, with a lot of volume.

It was in a play between the two most talented players on the team (Raphael Veiga and Endrick) that the number 23 left the boy in a position to dig Bento and open the score after just five minutes.

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The intense pace didn’t last long, something quite natural, after how much Verdão had to run on Wednesday. Still, spaces appeared in Barueri, but the team lacked the calm to complete the plays better. This made the match, despite the advantage, become an unnecessary rush, without controlling the game.

This did not mean a risk for Weverton, but the ball increasingly remained in Palmeiras’ defense. And if at the front it was the 17-year-old boy who decided more and more, at the back another young man, Naves, had the help of the toughest members of the squad to secure the result.

The number 34 shirt was a pleasant surprise for the black and white side. Substituting for Murilo, Naves showed a lot of confidence in marking and good passing when passing the ball. It helped to have two of Verdão’s most experienced players at his side.

Luan has been an important part of this white-and-white rally and showed this once again on Saturday, winning everything by a landslide. On the right, Marcos Rocha played a safe game, but grew even more in the final minutes, with greater pressure from Athletico-PR. They, together with Zé Rafael at the head of the defense, made the rival’s best moment much more about possession than chances in themselves.

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It’s clear that Palmeiras played with more confidence again, so much so that they missed some chances by trying to decorate too much. The results are being supported by an increasingly solid team, albeit with absences.

There are six games left for Verdão, and thinking about a title is no longer a dream. Botafogo still has a good advantage, but with a talented young player at the front and the multi-champion base of support, Palmeiras stands as a strong rival to Botafogo, even if they end the year with Arena Barueri as their home ground, where the climate is good. colder than at Allianz Parque.

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