Palmeiras head into Palmeiras Vs Internacional with a clearer defensive picture after Barboza trained with the group on Saturday morning and is expected to return on Sunday at 16:00. The only notable absence remains Gustavo Gómez, who is still recovering from a right thigh injury.
The timing matters for Abel Ferreira, who used the rotation against Fortaleza after the advantage built in the first leg of the Copa do Brasil. That decision appears to have opened the door for a stronger return to the side he wants to settle on for the 22nd round of the Brasileirão.
Abel Ferreira moves closer to his preferred defence
Saturday’s session at Nubank Parque was important because it brought Palmeiras a step nearer to a more familiar back line. Barboza was back with the squad, and that gives Ferreira another option as he shapes the team for a home match that could matter in the table.
Gómez, however, was not involved in full training. That leaves Palmeiras with one clear concern in defence, even if the overall picture is better than it was before the week’s work began.
What Palmeiras can take into Sunday
The main takeaway is simple: Palmeiras are getting closer to full strength at the back, but not quite there yet. With Barboza available again and Gómez still out, Ferreira must decide how much continuity to preserve after the changes made against Fortaleza.
That is the sort of decision that often defines a title chase. Palmeiras are preparing for Internacional from a stronger position than they were before Saturday, but the injury situation still shapes how much of Ferreira’s ideal line-up can actually take the field.
By Sunday evening, the question will be whether the rotation against Fortaleza was simply a short-term necessity or the first step toward a more settled Palmeiras side. Against Internacional, the answer should become clearer.
