Palm Trees e Sao Paulo drew 0-0 this evening (20), in a game valid for the first leg of the final of the Paulista championship 2021, not Allianz Parque.
With the result, a simple victory for either side will guarantee the title in the return game. A new tie takes the decision to penalties. Tricolor is trying to lift the competition cup for the first time since 2005 – and is also looking for its first title since 2012, when it won the South American. On the other hand, Verdão plays to reach the second championship.
The clash back will be played on Sunday (23), at 4 pm (Brasília time), in Morumbi, with field command from São Paulo.
Who did well: Liziero
Steady in the marking, the steering wheel neutralized all the weapons of creation of plays of Palmeiras. Liziero was the main name of the match also with good ball output. The midfielder risked bold passes and tried to equip those responsible for setting up dangerous moves in the Tricolor. A good start for the athlete.
Who was wrong: Raphael Veiga
Raphael Veiga did not perform as expected tonight. Appointed as the only creative midfielder in Abel Ferreira’s team, he barely touched the ball. One of the reasons was the form adopted by the principal in the match played at Allianz Parque, with a lot of direct connection. The athlete was still an easy prey for the men of the São Paulo Tricolor.
Daniel Alves gets injured again and worries for the final
After being absent for four games because of a stretch in the posterior region of his right thigh, the experienced Daniel Alves complained of pain again. The veteran also complained of a problem with his right leg and needed to be replaced by Igor Vinícius after 32 minutes of the first half. It becomes a concern for the decisive match. In addition to the veteran, Crespo has three other athletes who are doubts: strikers Luciano and Eder, who have already been out of the first leg, and midfielder Benítez, substituted at halftime to make way for Igor Gomes. Benítez was also replaced by Igor Gomes at the break for complaining of pain in the adductor muscle of the left thigh. The Argentine complained about the problem in the middle of the match.
Palmeiras performance
In most of the game, Palmeiras bet on defensive position with the lines back to try to fit one of their lethal counterattacks. But São Paulo, aware of this weapon, let Palmeiras have the ball, forcing exchanges of passes, in a type of game that does not favor the characteristics of the main offensive pieces, such as Rony and Raphael Veiga. When he risked going up the lines and pressing São Paulo’s exit, he managed to force errors by Benítez and Miranda, which resulted in good finishes by Luiz Adriano and Raphael Veiga. Too little for a championship final at home.
São Paulo’s performance
São Paulo struggled to impose their way of playing against Palmeiras. Well marked by the team led by Abel Ferreira, Tricolor tried to dominate the midfield with Benítez, Luan, Liziero and Gabriel Sara. The quartet, however, struggled to get rid of the opposing defense and created little opportunity. Pablo, stuck in defense, did not even touch the ball during the first stage. Crespo’s men suffered from adversary pressure and committed many fouls. The best chances created by the visitors came only in the final minutes, when the marking was already looser on both sides. Highlight for the risky kick by Gabriel Sara at the very end, from a long distance, stamping the Weverton crossbar.
Game chronology
Ron received a yellow card for a complaint after 28 minutes of the first half. The striker complained of a foul marked by arbitration in Daniel Alves and was punished with a card. São Paulo lost Daniel Alves in the 32nd minute of the match. Shirt 10 complained of pain after being divided and was replaced by Igor Vinícius. Miranda was punished with a yellow card in the 35th minute of the second half for a foul on Felipe Melo.
Second final between the teams and good São Paulo retrospect
This is just Paulistão’s second final between the two teams, who faced each other in 1992 on the other occasion. On that occasion, São Paulo got the better of Palmeiras with two victories, by 4 x 2 and 2 x 1. São Paulo has a favorable record against Palmeiras in knockout games. There are 13 victories in qualifiers for Tricolor against three for Verdão.
DATASHEET:
PALM TREES X SÃO PAULO
Reason: first leg of the Paulistão 2021 final
Local: Allianz Parque, in São Paulo (SP)
Data: May 20, 2021 (Thursday)
Schedule: at 10 pm (from Brasilia)
Referee: Flávio Rodrigues de Souza
Assistants: Marcelo Carvalho Van Gasse and Anderson José de Moraes Coelho
Fourth referee: Salim Fende Chavez
WHERE: José Cláudio Rocha Filho
Yellow card: Rony, Abel Ferreira (Palmeiras); Miranda (Sao Paulo)
PALM TREES: Weverton; Luan, Gustavo Goméz and Renan; Mayke, Felipe Melo, Patrick de Paula (Danilo Barbosa), Raphael Veiga (Gustavo Scarpa) and Victor Luis; Ron and Luiz Adriano (Wesley). Technical: Abel Ferreira.
SAO PAULO: Tiago Volpi; Arboleda, Miranda and Léo; Daniel Alves (Igor Vinícius), Luan, Liziero, Gabriel Sara and Reinaldo; Martín Benítez (Igor Gomes) and Pablo.Technical: Hernán Crespo.
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