Palmeiras line-up: Abel boosted by key return for Cerro Porteño clash

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·28 April 2026

Palmeiras line-up: Abel boosted by key return for Cerro Porteño clash

Palmeiras wrapped up preparations on Tuesday morning (28) for their Copa Libertadores group stage clash against Cerro Porteño. The match will be played on Wednesday (29) at 9:30 p.m. at La Nueva Olla stadium in Asunción.

Top of Group F with four points, Verdão have so far recorded a 1-1 draw away to Junior Barranquilla and a 2-1 win over Sporting Cristal at Allianz Parque.

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Coach Abel Ferreira is expected to keep the core of the team from recent matches and will welcome back center-back Murilo, who should regain his place alongside Gustavo Gómez.

The likely lineup is: Carlos Miguel; Giay, Gustavo Gómez, Murilo and Arthur; Marlon Freitas, Andreas Pereira, Allan and Jhon Arias; Sosa (Maurício) and Flaco López.

During training, the players took part in tactical drills on a reduced-size pitch, as well as technical work such as crosses, finishing, and free-kick practice.

A special match for Maurício

After the session, midfielder Maurício highlighted the importance of the clash — especially after recently becoming a naturalized Paraguayan citizen and receiving his first call-up to the national team.

“It’s a very special match and one that matters for us to stay top of the group. Away games are very important for us, and we know what it’s like to play in the Libertadores, what these matches are like. Personally, it will also be very special for me, in Paraguay, because of everything I’ve been going through this year. It’s going to be a really nice game, and I hope I can help my team come away with the win,” he said.

The player also spoke about his experience with the Paraguayan national team and the adaptation process.

“It was a dream come true, a huge emotion from the moment I found out I had been called up. […] I can only thank Gómez and Sosa, who really helped me settle in with the group. Everyone was very kind to me, very humble, so I adapted very quickly. It was a special moment, a dream come true. I’m very honored, and I hope to keep doing my job so I can be called up many more times,” he said.

Maurício also revealed that he has been dedicating himself to learning languages.

“I’ve been taking classes to improve my Spanish more and more. […] Of course, Guarani is a bit more difficult, but I’ve been learning — my father speaks it perfectly, and I’ve been learning from him and from the guys on the national team,” he added.

Palmeiras and Cerro Porteño are involved in one of the most frequent matchups in Libertadores history. Altogether, the teams have faced each other 16 times, including group-stage and knockout-round meetings, with the Brazilian club having had the upper hand recently in round-of-16 qualifications.

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