Despite the mixed team, the defense was the starter and reinforced that Alviverde needs a new defender. Khellven, Murilo, Gómez and Piquerez formed the defensive line and none of them did well — Murilo was even replaced by Benedetti shortly after the break (the young man failed on Novorizontino’s fourth goal). The management dreams of defender Nino, from Zenit, as the solution for the sector.
Midfield is once again a problem, and Emiliano Martínez continues to struggle. Palmeiras traded Aníbal Moreno at the end of last year and opted not to go to the market for a number 5 after Luis Pacheco, aged 17, was promoted to professional. Emi had another bad game — he left Robson free for Novorizontino’s first goal — and Luis remains a bet.
Raphael Veiga was in the starting lineup once again and also failed to play well. Palmeiras negotiates with Arias and Almada to reinforce the sector.
Abel Ferreira highlighted in the press conference after the game that Alviverde has many absences in the sector due to injuries, and that is why the boys are being tested now. Andreas Pereira and Lucas Evangelista, last year’s starters, are in physical transition and remain casualties at Palmeiras.
Without the Flaco-Roque duo, the attack doesn’t work either. Vitor Roque was absent from the match after feeling pain in his right knee against Mirassol, and Abel launched an attack with Allan, Flaco López and Riquelme Fillipi, but the trio did not get along on the field. In the 2nd half, the coach bet on Bruno Rodrigues and Luighi, who also did not respond — the second could even be traded this week.
Alviverde returns to the field on Saturday (24), at 6:30 pm (Brasília time), against São Paulo, at Arena Barueri. The expectation is that a team with maximum strength will soon turn the page on the worst defeat of the Abel era.
