Cerro Porteno vs Palmeiras - prediction, team news, lineups

Cerro Porteno invited Palmeiras to the Ueno La Nueva Olla Stadium connected Thursday nighttime for a important Copa Libertadores Group F encounter, with some sides aiming to fortify their positions arsenic the radical signifier approaches its midpoint.

With 2 rounds played, the hosts are looking to physique momentum aft a mixed commencement to their continental campaign, portion the visitors get arsenic radical leaders and 1 of the tourney favourites, seeking to instrumentality a decisive measurement toward qualification.

Match preview

Cerro Porteno caput into this clash with assurance stemming from their beardown home form, arsenic they presently pb the Paraguayan Apertura standings with 33 points from 16 matches, signaling 10 wins, 3 draws and conscionable 3 defeats truthful acold this season.

That consistency, however, has not afloat translated into the Copa Libertadores, wherever Ariel Holan’s broadside person taken 3 points from their opening 2 matches, losing 1-0 to Sporting Cristal earlier responding with a constrictive 1-0 triumph implicit Junior Barranquilla.

While their location signifier remains a large strength, their humanities struggles successful this contention — peculiarly against Brazilian absorption — stay a concern, and their grounds against Palmeiras is particularly daunting.

Indeed, Cerro Porteno person won conscionable 2 of their 17 erstwhile meetings with the Brazilian giants, suffering 11 defeats and 4 draws, portion they person mislaid each of the past 5 encounters, conceding 14 goals and scoring lone erstwhile successful that run.

Despite these challenges, the Paraguayan broadside volition look to thin connected their attacking threats, with Cecilio Dominguez and Juan Manuel Iturbe offering gait and creativity successful transition, portion Ariel Holan volition anticipation his squad tin nutrient a disciplined and resilient show successful beforehand of a passionate location crowd.

Palmeiras, by contrast, get successful fantabulous signifier and afloat of confidence, presently sitting apical of Group F with 4 points and besides starring the Brazilian Serie A standings with 32 points from 13 matches, beating Bragantino 1-0 in their past game.

Abel Ferreira’s broadside person been 1 of the astir accordant teams successful South America successful caller years, and their 2026 run has followed a akin pattern, having already secured the Campeonato Paulista rubric and extended their unbeaten league tally to 8 matches.

In the Libertadores, Palmeiras person continued to show their pedigree, boasting an outstanding grounds nether Abel Ferreira, including an 88% occurrence complaint successful the radical signifier and an awesome unbeaten tally of 9 distant matches successful the competition.

However, Palmeiras person had to header with a fewer wounded setbacks, peculiarly successful antiaircraft areas, and playing successful Asuncion is ne'er straightforward, meaning they volition inactive request to beryllium astatine their champion to support power of the group.

Cerro Porteno Copa Libertadores form:

Cerro Porteno signifier (all competitions):

Palmeiras Copa Libertadores form:

Palmeiras signifier (all competitions):

Team News

Cerro Porteno are expected to person a afloat squad available, with Ariel Holan apt to sanction a beardown lineup for this important encounter.

Cecilio Dominguez remains the cardinal attacking outlet, supported by Juan Manuel Iturbe and Matias Klimowicz, portion Jorge Morel and Wilder Viera volition supply equilibrium successful midfield.

Palmeiras, meanwhile, are dealing with respective absences, arsenic Joaquin Piquerez, Vitor Roque, Paulinho and Jefte are each sidelined done injury, limiting options peculiarly astatine left-back.

Murilo Cerqueira returns from suspension and should slot consecutive backmost into cardinal defence alongside Gustavo Gomez, portion Andreas Pereira volition proceed to orchestrate play successful midfield, with Jose Manuel Lopez starring the attack.

Cerro Porteno imaginable starting lineup:

Fernandez; Velazquez, Perez, Quintana, Chaparro; Dominguez, Morel, Viera; Klimowicz, Iturbe, Vegetti

Palmeiras imaginable starting lineup:

Miguel; Giay, Gomez, Murilo, Arthur; Freitas, Pereira, Allan; Sosa, Arias, Lopez

We say: Cerro Porteno 1-2 Palmeiras

Cerro Porteno volition beryllium competitory connected location ungraded and should make moments of danger, peculiarly done their gait successful transition, but their humanities struggles against Palmeiras are hard to ignore.

With greater squad depth, consistency and acquisition astatine this level, Palmeiras look well-equipped to borderline a choky contention and instrumentality a important measurement toward qualification.

For information investigation of the astir apt results, scorelines and much for this lucifer delight click here.