Preview: Palmeiras vs. Fluminense · prediction, team news, line-ups
Palmeiras host Fluminense on Wednesday at 21:30 Brasília time (18:30 Mexico City) at the Nubank Parque in the second leg of the Libertadores semi-finals.
The Verdão won the first leg 2-1 at the Maracanã. In the group stage they finished second in Group F on 11 points, while Fluminense were second in Group C on eight.
Match preview
Palmeiras arrive with a narrow lead and a simple task: a draw sends them through to the final. They won the first leg 2-1 at the Maracanã, with Flaco López and Marlon Freitas on the scoresheet.
The Verdão are unbeaten in five, with four wins and one draw. They beat Athletico Paranaense 2-0 on 17 October, following victories over Corinthians (4-1) and Bahia (1-0). The draw in that run was a 0-0 at Grêmio.
At home in the group stage they won twice and lost once, scoring six and conceding three. They finished second in Group F on 11 points with a goal difference of +5.
López and Jhon Arias lead the line, with four and three goals respectively.
Fluminense need a comeback and arrive in poor form. They have lost three in a row: 1-0 at Flamengo, 2-1 against Palmeiras in the first leg and 2-1 against Santos on 18 October.
Before that run they thrashed Coritiba 4-0 and won 3-1 away at Corinthians.
Away from home in the group stage they failed to win, drawing twice and losing once, with one goal scored and three conceded. They ended second in Group C on eight points, with a goal difference of zero. At home they were far sharper, winning twice and scoring six.
To reach the last four, they knocked out Independiente Rivadavia on penalties and Platense 3-2 on aggregate.
The recent head-to-head favours Palmeiras, who have won three of the last five meetings, with one draw and one Fluminense win. The Tricolor's victory was a 3-2 in the Brasileirão on 15 August.
Fluminense must win to turn the tie around, while Palmeiras are chasing a second straight Libertadores final. Uruguay's Esteban Ostojich takes charge of the match.
Palmeiras · recent results
- WAtletico Paranaense 0-2 Palmeiras
- WFluminense 1-2 Palmeiras
- WPalmeiras 4-1 Corinthians
- WPalmeiras 1-0 Bahia
- DGremio 0-0 Palmeiras
Fluminense · recent results
- LFluminense 1-2 Santos
- LFluminense 1-2 Palmeiras
- LFlamengo 1-0 Fluminense
- WFluminense 4-0 Coritiba
- WCorinthians 1-3 Fluminense
Key stats
Trends · last 5 matches
Team news
Vitor Roque is nursing a right ankle sprain and is expected to miss out. The club has not confirmed his absence and the decision will come at the end of preparation. He did not play in the first leg.
Gustavo Gómez and Giay return after serving suspensions in the Brasileirão. Marlon Freitas and Jhon Arias, rested for the win over Athletico Paranaense, are back in the fight for starting places. The side that began at the Maracanã is expected to line up again.
For Fluminense, Martinelli is a doubt with a left knee sprain suffered in the first leg. He missed the defeat to Santos, trained with the ball on Monday and is expected to travel to São Paulo. If he fails to make it, Hércules and Lucho Acosta are the alternatives.
Germán Cano and John Kennedy are out. Marcão should name the same XI as in the first leg.
Palmeiras need only a draw, are unbeaten in five and arrive in better shape than a Fluminense side on three straight defeats. The visitors have quality in attack and won 3-2 in August, but they failed to win away from home in the groups. We expect an open contest that the Verdão settle by the odd goal at home.
Match odds
+18
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