Brazilian side Palmeiras has attracted the attention of the world with their impressive brand of football. The team coached by Abel Ferreira is a worthy candidate to win the Copa Libertadores final, especially after some heavyweight contenders in their road to the title clash set to be played at Maracaná Stadium. With a team that balances experience and youth, Ferreira and his staff will try to give the green and white side its first Copa Libertadores title since 1999.
Road to the final
Palmeiras breezed past the group stage, where they won Group B over Paraguayan side Guaraní, Bolivian side Bolivar, and Argentine club Tigre. The Verdao earned a record of five wins and one draw during this stage, where they scored 17 goals (only River Plate scored more than them). They would become the No.1 seed for the final stage thanks to their performance in the group stage.
The knockout stage of the tournament started with a bang for Ferreira's team, as they defeated Ecuadorian side Delfín with an 8-1 aggregate. Their next stop would see them clash against Paraguay's Libertad. While they drew the first leg, an emphatic 3-0 lead in the second match earned them a spot in the semis, where title contenders River Plate awaited. There, Palmeiras claimed a huge 3-0 away win in the first match, which seemed to be enough to make it to the title match. Nevertheless, River Plate ended Palmeiras' unbeaten run in the tournament with a controversial 2-0 win that saw Palmeiras survive thanks to the intervention of VAR technology and two disallowed goals.
Key Players
Weverton - The Brazilian goalkeeper has been crucial to Palmeiras' success in the competition, leaving no room for any of his teammates under the sticks to have a single minute in the tournament. The goalie's form has seen him becoming a regular in the Brazilian National Team, where has earned a spot in the starting lineup for some of A Canarinha's recent games. Speaking of the Copa Libertadores, Weverton has only conceded six times, while he has led his defense to keep seven clean sheets.
Gabriel Menino - The 18-year-old midfielder has become one of Abel Ferreira's discoveries as coach, giving the youngster a chance to sign in the competition by playing eleven of the 12 games played by the Verdao. The player has stepped up and has even contributed with three goals and one assist, which have seen his value rise and turn him into one of the most interesting prospects for the Brazilian side in the near future.
Rony - Statistically, Rony is the most prominent figure for Palmeiras in the tournament. The left winger has played ten games for the green and white side, scoring five goals and handing out seven assists. If Palmeiras want to take the title home, Rony must have a key role in what happens during the clash.
Coach profile - Abel Ferreira
The Portuguese coach has caused quite a stir for Palmeiras, and he has done so in just over three months. Ferreira joined the green and white side in October 2020, where he has won fourteen of the 25 games he has coached. The 42-year-old boss has never won a title in his coaching career after stints with Braga and PAOK.
