[ad_1]
Palmeiras squandered the opportunity to guarantee advancement to the knockout stages of the Copa Libertadores and ended up in a 0-0 draw with Guaraní (PAR), today (23), at the Defensores del Chaco stadium in Paraguay. The result ended with the 100% utilization of Verdão after four rounds in continental competition.
In a weak performance, Vanderlei Luxembourg’s side increases their losing streak to 17 matches, but with eight wins and nine draws. The last setback occurred on July 22, for Corinthians, in the first phase of the Paulista Championship.
With ten points, Verdão is now doing the math to try to secure a place in the next round. The Guaraní, with seven, is in the second position of the table.
Accounts for classification
Palmeiras remains in the leadership of Group B, but without use at 100%. To guarantee a place in the next phase one round in advance, the team needs at least a draw in the next game, against Bolívar (BOL), next Wednesday (30), at 7.15 pm, in Allianz Parque. The Bolivian team is third in the table and is six points behind Verdão. Therefore, he would need to win the two remaining duels and continue to support the Luxembourg team. Guaraní (PAR) will visit Tigre, on Thursday (1), at 9:00 p.m.
The best: Gustavo Gómez, Liberta captain, is well again
Speaking Spanish, Gustavo Gómez was the captain of Palmeiras despite having Felipe Melo at his side and he once again led the Alviverde defense with a great performance. Sovereign in duels both from above and from the ground, the Paraguayan defender was at ease and repeated a great performance, after also shining against Bolívar (BOL), in La Paz.
The worst: Lucas Lima returns rusty
The number 20 returned to the team after losing two games to a trauma to his left foot and did not have the same performance that earned him praise before hurting himself. With little participation, he reopened on the right side, had a small improvement after the break, but still gave way to Raphael Veiga in the second half of the match.
Game timeline
As in La Paz, Palmeiras started the game by betting on counterattacks, but they did not manage to be efficient in this strategy. Guaraní gave Verdão room to hold the ball, but Vanderlei Luxemburg’s team acted too much. The only options to create was to force the pass or look for the long ball. The main occasion before the break was a shot from Fernando Fernández, the Paraguayan center forward, that hit the right post of Weverton.
In the second half, Palmeiras had much more possession, but with the same problems. The Guaraní was the team that created the most danger, especially after the entry of Cecílio Domínguez. He was the one who missed the hosts’ greatest opportunity before the end of the game, in a cross shot, which passed very close to the Palmeire post. And Verdão, even putting new blood in the middle and attacking, did not hit Servio’s goal at any time during the final stage.
DATA SHEET
GUARANÍ (PAIR) 0 x 0 PALM TREES
Data: September 23, 2020, Wednesday
Calendar: 9:30 pm (from Brasilia)
Local: Defenders of the Chaco, in Asunción (PAR)
Referee: Nestor Pitana (ARG)
Assistants: Carlos Barreiro and Martín Soppi (both from URU)
Yellow cards: Morel, Romaña (GUA); Wesley (PAL)
Red card: –
GOALS: –
GUARANÍ: Serbian; Ramírez, Baéz, Romanã e Benítez; Redes (Maná), Rodrigo Fernández e Morel (Angel Benítez); José Florentín (Domínguez), Merlini and Fernando Fernández. Technical: Gustavo Costas
PALM TREES: Weverton; Marcos Rocha, Felipe Melo, Gustavo Gómez and Viña; Danilo (Ramires), Gabriel Menino (Bruno Henrique) and Zé Rafael; Lucas Lima (Raphael Veiga), Veron (Wesley) and Luiz Adriano (Willian). Technical: Vanderlei Luxembourg
