Palmeiras line-up: Abel Ferreira to change starting XI v LDU

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·8 September 2026

Palmeiras line-up: Abel Ferreira to change starting XI v LDU

Palmeiras wrapped up preparations on Tuesday afternoon (8) at the Football Academy for the first leg of the CONMEBOL Libertadores quarterfinals. Verdão host Ecuador’s LDU this Wednesday (9) at 7 p.m. at Nubank Parque in the first leg. The return match is scheduled for the 16th in Quito.

Under Abel Ferreira’s coaching staff, the players began with muscle activation work at the center of excellence and then went out onto the pitch for tactical drills. The session focused on different aspects of the game, such as build-up play, marking, and positioning.

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In the final part of the session, the squad also worked on set pieces, both offensive and defensive, wrapping up preparations for a clash that could be decisive for Palmeiras’ ambitions in the competition.

Piquerez warns about the away decider

After training, left-back Piquerez spoke about the importance of the clash against LDU. The Ecuadorian side brings back a recent memory for Palmeiras: they were knocked out by Verdão in last year’s Libertadores semifinal.

For the Uruguayan, the team needs to make the most of the experience gained in the round of 16, when they eliminated Cerro Porteño and also had to decide qualification away from home.

For a player, it is really very satisfying to be able to reach the final stages in every competition, as we are doing now in these three. Tomorrow will be a very important match, especially because in these previous competitions we were used to closing things out at home. So it will be a little different.

Piquerez also highlighted the difficulty of playing at altitude in Quito and stressed the need for Palmeiras to build a positive result in front of their fans.

It just happened with Cerro Porteño, tomorrow will be the same, and we will have to play a great match. We know how difficult it will be to play at altitude in Quito; they are a very strong opponent away from home.

With 248 appearances for Palmeiras, Piquerez is the second current squad member to have worn the club’s shirt the most times, behind only captain Gustavo Gómez, who has 422 matches.

The fans will be crucial, says Piquerez

The full-back also highlighted the role of the fans in Wednesday’s clash. According to Piquerez, the strength of the Palmeiras Family could be decisive in helping the team take an advantage away from home.

The fans are very important. Thinking back a little to last year, to the match against them when nobody believed in us, the only people who helped us and believed were ourselves, the fans and the players, who wear this badge on our chest.

The Uruguayan also asked for support throughout the full 90 minutes.

With the support of the fans who will fill the stadium tomorrow, we will be able to play a great match, God willing. For that, we need everyone’s support from minute 0 to minute 90.

In addition to his impressive number of appearances, Piquerez is also close to catching Roberto Carlos among the full-backs with the most goals for Palmeiras. The Uruguayan has 17 goals and is just one away from equaling the former player, who scored 18 times for the club. Pedrinho also has 17.

Palmeiras aim for another semifinal

Palmeiras reach the quarterfinals with a historic mark in the Libertadores. The club is the only one to have advanced to the knockout stage in the last ten editions of the competition.

This will be Verdão’s 14th quarterfinal appearance, a number that makes the club the Brazilian record holder. In the overall ranking, Palmeiras trail Boca Juniors, with 16 appearances, and River Plate, with 19.

Alviverde are also looking to reach their 13th semifinal in Libertadores history. Among Brazilian clubs, no one has reached this stage more often.

Throughout their history in the competition, Palmeiras have played 54 knockout or title-deciding ties. They have won three titles, gone through 33 times, finished as runners-up four times, and been eliminated 14 times.

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