How Flamengo v Palmeiras became South America’s biggest game

Palmeiras had to rethink after the loss of Estevao to Chelsea and a disappointing Club World Cup.

Vitor Roque made an unconvincing start – until Ferreira made a change.

Recognising that the striker likes space, and was not working squeezed between the centre-backs, the coach moved Vitor Roque towards the left channel, and brought in Argentine centre-forward Juan Manuel ‘Flaco’ Lopez to play alongside him.

They clicked together, although having a strike duo can put a strain on the rest of the side.

That was the case when they last met Flamengo, just over a month ago.

Although they were away from home, Palmeiras pressed high. Flamengo adapted. Instead of their normal style, working the ball through Jorginho in midfield, they went direct. They had less possession and fewer shots, but won 3-2, and perhaps more convincingly than the scoreline would suggest.

There are plenty of reasons to believe Saturday’s game will be different. For a start, Flamengo centre-forward Pedro, outstanding that day, is injured and misses the final.

Filipe Luis lacks a like-for-like replacement. A possibility would have been Ecuadorian winger Gonzalo Plata, who has at times filled that role, but he is suspended.

Flamengo, then, cannot reproduce what they did in October, and, almost certainly, Palmeiras will look to do something different.

The calendar of Brazilian football is insane, the quantity of travel and the number of games transforming the season into an endurance test. Players are now on their last legs, and this could force Abel Ferreira into a cautious approach, often his natural inclination for big games.

Might he go with five at the back? It is a possibility. Flamengo love stretching their opponents, reeling them in and then switching for ex-Manchester United right-back Guillermo Varela to appear as an element of surprise at the far post.

Palmeiras could follow the lead of the Argentine teams in the previous rounds and block that with a back five.

Ferreira could set up to hold off Flamengo’s depleted attacking resources, seek to contain their outstanding playmaker, the Uruguayan Giorgian de Arrascaeta and spring Vitor Roque on the break.

The match, then, could well be attritional, at times generating more heat than light. But whatever happens it is going to be dramatic, it is going to be historic and across South America it is going to be remembered for a long time to come.