Palmeiras returned from Belém after a 1-1 draw against Remo in the Brasileirão, carrying four key issues to address.
**The Point.**
The team continues to struggle with efficiency, earning only a single point against the league’s second-to-last team. Palmeiras took 18 shots, five on target, but found the net just once. This performance came after a four-day rest period—a longer break than usual, as the coaching staff had recently complained about insufficient preparation time between matches.
**The Warning.**
The unexpected draw in Pará also serves as a warning for Palmeiras’ league lead. Abel Ferreira’s side saw second-placed Flamengo close the gap to four points. However, Flamengo still has one game in hand, and the two teams will face each other in a direct clash in two weeks.
**The Complaint.**
Flamengo’s approach, however, took a backseat to Palmeiras’ strong criticism of the referee. In stoppage time, Bruno Fuchs scored what appeared to be the winning goal, but it was disallowed after referee Rafael Klein reviewed the VAR and ruled a handball by Flaco López. The decision drew sharp comments from director Anderson Barros, who opened the post-match press conference with his grievances.
**The Suspension.**
To round out the issues from last night’s game, Abel Ferreira will have to deal with a confirmed absence for the next round: Allan. The midfielder received his third yellow card against Remo and will be unavailable for the clash against Cruzeiro—Mauricio is the top candidate to replace him.
**Abel Returns Just in Time**
Last night’s match also marked the end of Abel Ferreira’s suspension in the Brazilian Championship. The coach had been banned for seven matches after red cards against Fluminense and São Paulo. With the Portuguese tactician back on the sidelines, Palmeiras faces a crucial run of fixtures. First, they will play the second leg of the Copa do Brasil fifth round on Wednesday (13) against Jacuipense—the first leg ended 3-0 in Palmeiras’ favor. The team will also take on Cruzeiro, Flamengo, and Chapecoense in the Brasileirão before the World Cup break. In between, Palmeiras faces Cerro Porteño and Junior Barranquilla in the Libertadores, where they lead Group F with eight points but have not yet secured qualification.