Amid pressure from the fans, Palmeiras reacted on Thursday (14) with a 4-0 rout over Universitario, in the 4-0 outward game of the Copa Libertadores final rounds.
The triumph began to be built in the first half. At seven minutes, Gustavo Gómez opened the penalty score. Five minutes later, Flaco López expanded, and at 30, Vitor Roque marked the third. In the final stage, the university had defender Riveros sent off after five minutes, and Flaco López completed the victory with his second goal at 30.
Next Thursday (21), at Allianz Parque, not even a defeat by three goals difference takes the classification of Palmeiras. The Peruvian team would need to win by four goals to bring the decision to the penalties.
Those who advance will face the winner of the duel between Libertad and River Plate. In the first leg, also this Thursday, the teams tied 0-0 in Paraguay.
In addition to taking an important step towards the quarterfinals, the result has helped relieve pressure on coach Abel Ferreira, who has lived his most contestation moment since he arrived at the club in 2020.
The recent elimination in the round of 16 of the Brazilian Cup, with two losses for Corinthians, placed the Portuguese at the center of criticism. Part of the fans began to resign, while President Leila Pereira tries to renew her contract – the current bond goes until December.
With the vacancy sent in Libertadores, Abel gains breath to follow the cast renewal process this season. So far, the adaptation of reinforcements and the team has been expensive: loss of the São Paulo title, a drop in the quarterfinals of the Club World Cup and early elimination in the Brazilian Cup.
At the height of the tension, a group of fans attacked the Football Academy with rockets and bombs at dawn on Sunday (10). Images released by the club show people throwing artifacts against the CT gate, in the west of São Paulo.
Players, coaching staff and employees were on site, concentrated for the game against Ceará, for the Brazilian Championship. No one is hurt.
The Civil Police indicted a suspect, but another four have not yet been found. The escalation of protests may influence the renewal of Abel’s contract, which has avoided accelerating negotiations despite the interest of the board. Libertadores performance should weigh on the coach’s decision.
Since the episode, Palmeiras have won two matches. Against Ceará, he triumphed 2-1 and kept the third position in the Brazilian.
In Libertadores, it maintains the best campaign since the group stage, with 100% success. The performance guarantees the club the right to decide at home all the knockout clashes, except the final, played in a single game since 2019.
If you reach the decision, Palmeiras will return to the university stadium, chosen by Conmebol as the headquarters of this edition. It will be the second time that the place will receive the final of the tournament – first, in 2019, Flamengo beat River Plate 2-1.
Prior to the reunion with the Peruvians, Abel Ferreira’s team faces Botafogo on Sunday (17), at 20:30, for the Brazilian Championship. Third, with 36 points, Palmeiras has seven more than the Rio team, fifth, with 29.
Also on Thursday, the Solitarian star team beat LDU 1-0 and will play for a draw in the return duel in Quito, for the round of 16 of Libertadores.
