Palmeiras beat Bragantino 1-0 at Allianz Parque despite using a make-shift squad. To no one’s surprise, Verdão were not at their usual best and were constantly pressured by the visitors but a goal from Luiz Adriano proved to be the defence on the night.
Bragantino started out the game better, pressed high up the pitch and kept the ball in major aspects of the game.
Palmeiras, after making eight changes from the game against América-MG had difficulties in attack. Bragantino’s Ryller had an opportunity to strike first in the opening minute but his effort was deflected off the goal.
Palmeiras were surprisingly the ones who opened the scoring before the half hour mark. Luiz Adriano was at the receiving end of Gabriel Menino‘s cross in which he headed and scored. The goal was cancelled, but after the check by the VAR, it was reinstated.
Palmeiras held on to defending their lead and Bragantino saw more possession of the ball but couldn’t capitalize. With the entry of Ytalo and Claudinho, the visitors improved offensively but still couldn’t break Verdao’s defence.
Bragantino improved a lot in the second half but couldn’t find the equalizer despite taking a whopping 21 shots at Palmeiras goal in total.
After losing for the second time consecutively, Bragantino remains in 13th place with 41 points, three points above Vasco in the drop zone. For their next outing, they would face São Paulo on January 6.
Palmeiras are three points behind fourth place and will go against América-MG on Thursday before facing River Plate for the semi-finals of the Libertadores.
