Advantage, reinforcements and changes: how Cerro Porteño meet Palmeiras again in the Libertadores | OneFootball

Cerro Porteño visit Palmeiras on Wednesday at 19:00 at Nubank Parque for the first leg of the Libertadores last 16. The Paraguayans topped Palmeiras’ group in the previous phase and arrive with squad changes and uneven domestic form.

According to Globo.com, they added eight players, including Manuel Roffo, Iván Ramírez, Alexis Cañete, Lucas Merolla and Ariel Gamarra, with only those five registered for the last 16.

There were 15 departures, and none matched the impact of goalkeeper Alexis Martín Arias moving to Nacional after nearly three years as an undisputed starter.

Ariel Holán will have a full squad available apart from the unregistered trio, with Almendra the best known. The shape should mirror the group stage, a 4-4-2 that turns into 5-3-2 in defence, with Piris da Motta dropping back. Juan Iturbe returns from injury alongside Merolla.

Only four group-stage starters are in the likely XI, Velázquez, Domínguez, Morel and Vegetti. Holán is expected to use Roffo, Ramírez and Cañete, as well as Merolla.

Cerro have the advantage of hosting the second leg in Asunción. Their league form is poor, with three defeats in their last four. After the loss to Sportivo Ameliano, Holán said the side need to be more effective and that this start is not what they wanted, even if the season is long. Their Libertadores record is four wins, one draw and one defeat, and they visit Club Sportivo San Lorenzo on Sunday before the return.

Source: Globo.com

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”