Palmeiras vs Vasco da Gama Prediction: Has Palmeiras returned to the good old days?

The Verdão thrashed Deportivo Pereira 4-0 in Colombia in the first leg of the Copa Libertadores quarter-finals, making Palmeiras a clear candidate to win the prestigious trophy. Abel Ferreira's side is comfortable in this competition, winning twice in the last three editions with the Portuguese at the helm. The reigning Brazilian champions needed a display and a result like this because, despite their recent improvement, the level of play was still far from the standard achieved last season and even at the start of this year. With qualification for the Copa Libertadores semi-finals practically assured, Palmeiras can concentrate fully on the Brasileirão and this match against Vasco da Gama. The Paulistas want to beat the Cariocas and make amends for the 2-2 draw in Round 2.

In second place with 37 points, the Verdão still dreams about the title. To do so, Palmeiras must win every match and hope that leader Botafogo loses points. That's what happened in the last round. Palmeiras won 2-0 in Cuiabá while Botafogo drew at the Morumbi. A win against Vasco is imperative, given the difference in quality between the two teams, and to put pressure on Botafogo, who hasn't been playing so well lately. Palmeiras has only lost once at home, precisely to the first-placed team in the Brasileirão.

On the return of the public to Vasco fixtures, the team beat Atlético Mineiro in front of 53,000 spectators at the Maracanã, many of them under heavy rain. The atmosphere in the stadium was impressive, and the joy was immense for the Cruzmaltino fans. Vasco da Gama climbed to 18th place, five points clear of the Z4 but with a game in hand. The Giant has picked up seven points from its last three matches and is keeping the dream of staying in the Série A alive. It won't be an easy game for Ramón Díaz's side, but the pressure is all on the champions. In the last 20 years, Vasco has only won once at the Palmeiras ground, in 2015.

Palmeiras is the favorite for this Round 21 match. The team seems to have returned to the good old days, showing great superiority over Deportivo Pereira at an advanced stage of the Copa Libertadores. Some small signs of Botafogo's decline in form could motivate the Verdão. For Vasco da Gama, getting a point at Allianz Parque would be an achievement and a huge surprise. To increase the odds, I will bet on a Palmeiras win with Total Goals under 4.5.