Palmeiras have one Libertadores exit to foreign side under Abel Ferreira | OneFootball

Palmeiras take the field this Wednesday (19) at 7pm (Brasília time) at La Nueva Olla stadium in Asunción to decide a place in the CONMEBOL Libertadores quarterfinals against Cerro Porteño. In the first leg, played at Nubank Parque, the teams drew 1-1, with Flaco López scoring for Verdão and Vegetti equalizing in stoppage time.

The clash in Paraguay also highlights a remarkable statistic from Palmeiras’ run under Abel Ferreira in South America’s main competition: Verdão have been eliminated only once by a foreign team since the Portuguese coach arrived.

The only elimination came in 2023, against Boca Juniors in the semifinal. After two draws — 0-0 at La Bombonera and 1-1 at Nubank Parque — qualification was decided on penalties. The Argentines won 4-2 and advanced to the final.

In Palmeiras’ other Libertadores eliminations during the Abel era, the team that knocked them out was always a Brazilian club. In 2022, Athletico-PR got the better of them in the semifinal. Two years later, in 2024, Botafogo eliminated Verdão in the round of 16. Then, in 2025, Palmeiras were defeated by Flamengo in the competition final.

The record therefore shows Palmeiras’ strength against foreign opponents in the Libertadores knockout rounds under Abel. In 2022, for example, the team got past Cerro Porteño in the round of 16 and Atlético-MG in the quarterfinals before falling to Athletico-PR. In 2023, they eliminated Atlético-MG and Deportivo Pereira before the semifinal against Boca.

Now Cerro Porteño stand in Verdão’s way once again. And the recent head-to-head record favors Palmeiras: there have been nine matches against the Paraguayans in the Abel Ferreira era, with six wins, two draws, and only one defeat.

In addition, Palmeiras head into this Wednesday’s decider unbeaten in their knockout visits to Paraguay.

To advance directly to the quarterfinals, Palmeiras need to win in regular time. Another draw will send the decision to penalties. The team will have an important absence: Andreas Pereira, sent off in the first leg, is suspended. On the other hand, Barboza and Khellven have returned to training and are available to Abel Ferreira.

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