The chase is on, and Palmeiras isn’t backing down. Under the watchful eye of coach Abel Ferreira, the Verdão secured a vital 1-0 win against Botafogo. This victory keeps them locked in second place in the Brasileirão, just four points behind league leaders Flamengo. Flamengo also showed their strength yesterday, beating Internacional of Porto Alegre.
This wasn’t just any match for Botafogo, though. Coach Davide Ancelotti made a bold move, fielding an alternative starting lineup. His team, nicknamed Fogão, clearly had their minds on bigger things, specifically the Copa Libertadores. It was a tactical gamble, and it opened the door for Palmeiras. Felipe Anderson found the back of the net, scoring the game’s only goal right before halftime. This single strike was all Palmeiras needed to grab the three points.
Palmeiras now juggles two major competitions. Their next league match sees the Verdão host Sport Recife, a team currently at the bottom of the standings. But before that, there’s a crucial Copa Libertadores clash. They’ll face Universitario from Peru in the second leg of the Round of Sixteen. Abel Ferreira’s side already holds a commanding lead, having won the first leg 4-0. It seems the green machine is firing on all cylinders, aiming for glory on multiple fronts.