With Andreas Pereira suspended for the decisive Libertadores clash against Cerro Porteño, Abel Ferreira is evaluating options within the Palmeiras squad to maintain tactical balance.
Palmeiras faces a tense week behind the scenes at the Academia de Futebol. With the mission of securing qualification for the quarterfinals of the Copa Libertadores, the coaching staff led by Abel Ferreira needs to solve a crucial midfield problem: the absence of Andreas Pereira. The midfielder, who is the team’s main assist provider this season, was sent off in the first leg against Cerro Porteño and will serve an automatic suspension this Wednesday (August 19), in Asunción.
The news comes at a delicate moment for Verdão, which is enduring a four-game winless streak, marking the club’s worst run in 2026. The team needs to overcome this period of instability and secure qualification away from home after a 1-1 draw in the first leg. Any narrow victory will send the team to the next phase, while another draw will force a penalty shootout.
Abel Ferreira’s Options
To fill the gap left in the playmaking and defensive midfield roles, the Portuguese coach is working with different tactical setups. If he opts to maintain the three-defender formation, the main alternatives are Emiliano Martínez and Lucas Evangelista.
The inclusion of Emiliano Martínez would allow the player to return to his original position, providing greater defensive cover and allowing Marlon Freitas more freedom to advance into attack. On the other hand, Lucas Evangelista stands out as a player who maintains the team’s passing rhythm, although he has accumulated fewer minutes on the field recently.
Risk or Creativity Scenario
The coaching staff is also considering the alternatives of Felipe Anderson and Mauricio. However, these options bring a much more offensive character to the team.
In a decisive away match, using players with offensive characteristics could overload Marlon Freitas in the midfield’s defensive duties, leaving the green-and-white defensive system more exposed to Cerro Porteño‘s counter-attacks.
As reported by the Equipe M360, the squad conducted their first preparation activities last Sunday.
Abel Ferreira will still have two training sessions to define the ideal replacement, aiming to balance the creativity needed to score with the defensive security required in continental knockout stages. The decision on the lineup will be central to reversing the current moment and ensuring Palmeiras‘ survival in the competition.
Equipe M360
