Palmeiras seek to match best defensive run vs Corinthians | OneFootball

This weekend, Palmeiras faces another extremely important challenge in their quest for the Brazilian Championship title. Verdão will go head-to-head against Corinthians this Sunday at 6:30 PM (Brasília time) at Neo Química Arena, for the 22nd round.

Alviverde currently sits in second place in the Série A table with 42 points—four fewer than Flamengo, the current leader of the competition. Beyond that, what’s also at stake for Palmeiras is another ‘clean sheet’, as coach Abel Ferreira often says.

Thus, Palmeiras is aiming to come through the derby unscathed and match their best defensive streak of the season. The team led by Abel has shown solidity in defense and is also benefiting from Weverton’s good form. It’s no coincidence that they have already gone four consecutive matches without conceding a goal.

Palmeiras’ defensive line was not breached in either of the two Libertadores round of 16 matches against Universitario-PER (a 4-0 win and a goalless draw), as well as in victories over Botafogo (1-0) and Sport (3-0), both in the Brasileirão.

In three of the four ‘clean sheet’ matches, Palmeiras had two key defenders on the field: Gustavo Gómez and Murilo. Both started in the games against Botafogo, Sport, and Universitario (second leg). In the first leg, Micael started alongside the Paraguayan.

Verdão recorded its best defensive streak of the season in mid-May. At that time, the Palmeiras squad went five straight matches without conceding: Bolívar (2-0) and Cerro Porteño (2-0) in the Libertadores; Vasco (1-0) and São Paulo (1-0) in the Brasileirão; and Ceará (1-0) in the third round of the Copa do Brasil.

With the defense performing well again, Palmeiras now seeks to keep another ‘clean sheet’. If they don’t concede against Corinthians, Alviverde will match their best defensive run of 2025. In addition, it would be another important step in the fight for the Série A title.

In the current season, however, Verdão has struggled to keep clean sheets in derbies against their black-and-white rivals. In six Derbys played this year, the team has conceded six goals. The Palmeiras defense kept a clean sheet in only two of them—one in the Brasileirão and one in the Paulista, when they finished as runners-up.

Palmeiras to have ‘ideal’ defensive duo again

Despite not having the best defensive stats in this year’s Derbys, Palmeiras will have its ‘ideal’ center-back pairing for this Sunday’s derby, something that has happened very few times this year.

Gustavo Gómez and Murilo have played together in only one match against Corinthians in 2025, and not even as a center-back duo. Both started only in the first Derby of the year, still in the Paulista group stage, forming a back three with Naves.

In the other derbies, either Gómez or Murilo struggled with physical problems or suspensions. Thus, only one of the two was available in the other five Derbys played this season. In the last derby, for example, Gustavo Gómez and Micael formed the duo.

This Sunday, both Gómez and Murilo will be available to coach Abel Ferreira. It remains to be seen whether both will start for Palmeiras.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.