Palmeiras beats Ponte Preta and goes to the semi-finals of Paulista – 03/16/2024 – Sports

With three goals from top scorer Flaco López, Palmeiras scored 5-1 at Ponte Preta at Arena Barueri, this Saturday (16), and advanced to the semi-finals of the Campeonato Paulista.

The good performance of the Alviverde team, current champion, allows fans to dream of a third consecutive championship. The last time this occurred was between 1932 and 1934.

Just like in 2017, 2018, 2022 and 2023, Palmeiras is the owner of the best campaign in the group stage. With this, the team has the advantage of deciding the state knockout stage at home. Allianz, however, is undergoing renovations, with the alviverde sending matches to Barueri.

In the semi-final, Palmeiras, for having the best campaign, will face the team with the fewest points, that is, considering the score since the group stage. Therefore, the semifinal clashes will be defined after the end of the quarterfinals.

In Barueri, Palmeiras opened the scoring after two minutes with the ball rolling, with Flaco López heading in and taking advantage of Piquerez’s cross from the left. Abel Ferreira’s team continued to press. Flaco López expanded at 18, after receiving a pass from Endrick.

Flaco had other chances in the first half, but it was up to Murilo to expand in the 37th minute by heading a corner kick made by Raphael Veiga.

Ponte Preta, on the other hand, was involved by Abel’s team and posed little danger to Weverton’s goal.

In the final stage, Palmeiras consolidated the victory with Piquerez and another goal from Flaco López. The Campinas team managed to score with Renato on a free kick, at 44 minutes into the second half.

With three goals in the game, the 23-year-old Argentine striker reached his tenth goal of the season and leads the state’s artillery. All the goals, in fact, were scored in the Campeonato Paulista.

“Thank God, I’m in a spectacular moment and taking advantage of the opportunities that Abel is giving me. Every player dreams [com seleção]but I’m thinking about Palmeiras, about continuing to work”, said the competition’s top scorer to Globo, as he left the pitch.

The quarterfinal stage ends this Sunday. At 4 pm, Red Bull Bragantino will host Inter de Limeira. São Paulo and Novorizontino duel at 6 pm, at Morumbi, and Santos will face Portuguesa at 8:15 pm, at Vila Belmiro.