Palmeiras vs Sporting Cristal: Copa Libertadores Preview
According to a report from Sports Mole, Palmeiras will look to protect their 22-game unbeaten streak at home in the Libertadores when they host Sporting Cristal on Wednesday. The Brazilian giants have already secured their place in the knockout rounds, but Cristal’s hopes of advancing are still alive, albeit slim.
As reported by Sports Mole, Palmeiras wrapped up first place in Group G with one round to spare, following a 2-0 win at home to Bolivar. The victory marked their fifth consecutive Copa Libertadores win and showcased their dominance in the competition. They have led for a total of 333 minutes and are the only side yet to trail in the group phase.
In contrast, Sporting Cristal trail second-placed Cerro Porteno by three points and have an inferior goal difference. A win in Sao Paulo may not be enough for Cristal to stay in the competition, as they would need Cerro Porteno to lose heavily against Bolivar. As Sports Mole notes, Cristal’s recent form has been underwhelming, with just four points from their last four fixtures.
Palmeiras coach Abel Ferreira will be back on the touchline after serving a domestic ban, and Richard Rios will return from suspension. According to Sports Mole, Rios could replace Lucas Evangelista in midfield if the hosts name a strong starting XI. Gustavo Gomez and Murilo will both miss the upcoming Brasileiro match against Cruzeiro due to disciplinary issues, but they are available for Wednesday’s clash. Only Felipe Anderson (thigh) is set to miss out through injury.
In defence, Gomez won his 50th Copa Libertadores game with the club earlier this month, and only two players have ever had more wins for one team: Rogerio Ceni (51 for Sao Paulo) and Weverton (53 for Palmeiras). Up front, Vitor Roque – the most expensive signing in Brazilian football history – should link up with Estevao, unless Ferreira opts to rotate his resources. As Sports Mole reports, Estevao has netted three goals in Group G so far, while Martin Cauteruccio is Cristal’s leading scorer with two.
Cristal are still missing captain and long-term absentee Yoshimar Yotun, who will be joined on the sidelines by Luis Iberico, Renato Solis, and Santiago Gonzalez. Sports Mole predicts a Palmeiras win, stating: “Though Cristal will be more motivated, their hopes of qualifying for the next round are only paper thin. Even a rotated Palmeiras side would have too much firepower for the Peruvians to handle, so they are set to finish third and slip into the Sudamericana.”
The possible starting lineups for the match are:
Palmeiras: Weverton; Rocha, Fuchs, Cerqueira, Piquerez; Rios, Martinez; Estevao, Mauricio, Luighi; Roque
Sporting Cristal: Enriquez; Lora, Romero, Lutiger, Pasquini; Pretell, Tavara, Wisdom; Gonzales, Cauteruccio, Pacheco
As Sports Mole concludes, Palmeiras are likely to win 2-0 against Sporting Cristal.
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