Gustavo Gómez absence tests Palmeiras' defence at key moment | OneFootball

Palmeiras will have a major absence in their most important match of the season so far. Captain and one of the main technical pillars of Verdão’s defensive system, Gustavo Gómez will not be able to face LDU this Wednesday (16) at Rodrigo Paz Delgado Stadium in Quito, in the second leg of the CONMEBOL Libertadores quarterfinals.

The center-back received his third yellow card in the first leg, which Palmeiras won 1-0, and will serve an automatic suspension in the decisive clash. As a result, Gómez will once again miss an important knockout match for Verdão precisely at a time of high defensive demand.

The last time the captain had missed a match of this magnitude was at the 2025 Club World Cup, when he was unavailable for the quarterfinal against Chelsea. On that occasion, Gómez was also suspended after picking up cards in the competition.

In addition to his leadership as captain, the Paraguayan has become one of Palmeiras’ main references in defensive organization and in guiding the team in decisive matches.

Even though he cannot take the field, however, Gómez has not stayed away from the squad. The captain traveled to Quito with the team and is taking part in the preparations alongside his teammates, staying close to the group in the final stretch before the decision.

Murilo expected to take the armband

Without Gómez, the expectation is that Murilo will be the one to wear the captain’s armband against LDU. The defender is one of the main options to lead Verdão’s defense in the match.

The coaching staff will also need to decide the makeup of the back line. Bruno Fuchs is a candidate to fill one of the spots, while other alternatives were tested by Abel Ferreira during preparations.

The challenge will be even greater because of the context of the match. Palmeiras arrive in Quito with the 1-0 advantage built in the first leg, but they will face LDU at altitude and will need to protect the result to secure qualification.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.