Chelsea opponent outlook: Getting to know Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras

3. Getting to know the faces at Palmeiras

Whereas Al Hilal had a couple of recognizable faces within its ranks, that is hardly the case with Chelsea’s opponent this time around. A lot of Palmeiras’ players have spent a majority—if not the entirety—of their careers in Brazil. Therefore, unless you’re an avid viewer of the South American Serie A, it’s unlikely you’ve heard these names before. This doesn’t mean they aren’t incredibly talented though. The Alviverde have a plethora of skilled footballers within their squad.

Kicking things off with the man who scored the opener against Al Ahly, Raphael Veiga is a name to know. He’s a 26-year-old attacking midfielder that has just begun to recognize his true abilities over the last few years. Veiga came up through the ranks with Coritiba. He joined Palmeiras in 2016, but didn’t get many opportunities until after returning from loan at Athletico Paranaense at the end of the 2018 campaign. Veiga has transformed into a huge goalscoring threat in the last two seasons, tallying 18 goals and four assists each year. The midfielder is well on his way to breaking those creative numbers this season with three assists already in four games.

Veiga opened up the scoring and assisted the second goal against Al Ahly. He has formed a lethal partnership with Dudu, who put the Egyptians to rest midweek with the game’s second goal. The winger is the only name European football fans may be slightly familiar with after the 30-year-old spent some time with Dynamo Kyiv from 2011 to 2015. Dudu has bounced around for much of his career; however, after playing 302 minutes in Palmeiras’ opening four games, it seems as if he may have found his place. Dudu’s versatility and solid relationship with Veiga are some things for the Blues to watch out for on Saturday. He can play on both wings with equal effectiveness, as displayed by his three goals and one assist scored in total on the left and right already this season.

Dudu is not the only versatile attacker in the Alviverde’s arsenal either. This is due to the rise of the Rony on the ri . . . my love for alliteration had me hoping he was a right winger. Alas, he plays all across the front line. The Brazilian No. 10 is like Veiga in that he has spent the entirety of his professional career at home. The 26-year-old joined Palmeiras two years ago and he’s been a stalwart in the side ever since. Manager Abel Ferreira utilizes Rony at all three spots in attack, although he is a left winger by trade. Rony’s played all of his 345 minutes this season as a center forward, scoring once and assisting on two other goals in the process.

Last—but certainly not least—is Danilo. The defensive midfielder is not a name on many’s radar right now; that’ll change soon enough. The 20-year-old broke through into Palmeiras’ first team during the 2020 season. Danilo’s racked up 87 appearances since making his senior debut, becoming a crucial figure in the midfield. The youngster may not have the flashy stats (just five goals and five assists in 5,500+ minutes) or the versatility of his teammates, but he may be the best of the bunch. Danilo’s gargantuan presence in the middle of the park allows the team to tick and if not for him, there’s a chance the Alviverde may not be where they are right now.

Don’t allow yourself to be fooled. These aren’t worldwide superstars that’ll be lining up across from the Blues, nor are they the most coveted footballers of their generation. Nevertheless, Palmeiras has built a well-oiled machine that has perfected the art of tournament football, similar to the job Thomas Tuchel has done at Chelsea. This game is going to be gritty and the Blues better dig in or risk getting left behind by a hungry Brazilian squad under the bright lights in Abu Dhabi.

What do you expect out of Palmeiras against Chelsea in the Club World Cup final? Let us know your thoughts in the comments or on Twitter!