Brazilian giants Palmeiras lock horns with Bolivian outfit Bolivar at Allianz Parque for their final match in the Copa Libertadores group stage on Thursday evening.
The two teams have already qualified for the knockout rounds, but a win for either side will secure top spot in Group C.
Match preview
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After beginning the month of June with three successive victories and extending their unbeaten Brasileiro run to 10 matches, Palmeiras have since suffered back-to-back 1-0 league defeats against Bahia and Botafogo.
A first-half strike from in-form Botafogo marksman Tiquinho was ultimately enough to claim maximum points against the reigning Brasileiro champions, who have slipped to fourth in the table and eight points behind O Glorioso at the summit.
Palmeiras's loss to Botafogo ended their remarkable 32-game unbeaten run on home soil in all tournaments, dating back to July last year; not since April 2021 have the Alviverde suffered successive home defeats.
Abel Ferreira's men will soon have tricky league clashes with Athletico Paranaense and Flamengo to prepare for, but they must first turn their attention to their final group-stage match in the Copa Libertadores, and a victory is required if they wish to leapfrog Bolivar to top spot in Group C.
Palmeiras, three-time Copa Libertadores winners, will be seeking revenge against Bolivar as they suffered a 3-1 away defeat in La Paz in matchday one; the Alviverde let an early lead slip before both teams ended the contest with 10 men.
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Bolivar extended their unbeaten run across all competitions to five matches when they secured a comfortable 3-0 home win over Real Santa Cruz in the Bolivian Primera Division on Sunday.
Goals from Gabriel Villamil, Nicolas Ferreyra and substitute Carmelo Algaranaz helped the Sky Blues claim their eighth league win of the season, and although Benat San Jose's side remain fourth in the top-flight table, they have now moved to within six points of leaders The Strongest who were on the wrong end of a thrilling 6-3 scoreline against second-placed Nacional Potosi on Saturday.
Bolivar resume their Copa Libertadores duties having already booked their place in the knockout rounds for the first time since reaching the semi-finals in 2014. The Sky Blues were eliminated from the group stage three years ago, losing both home and away fixtures to Palmeiras, but they now finds themselves level on 12 points with the Brazilians in this year's competition after five group matches.
San Jose's side have only won two of their last 10 away games in all tournaments, but securing at least a draw on Friday would be enough to finish top of Group C as they boast a slightly better goal difference than Palmeiras.
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Team News
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Palmeiras midfielder Eduard Atuesta remains sidelined with a long-term ACL injury, while defensive duo Murilo and Marcos Rocha are also in the treatment room with respective shoulder and hamstring problems.
Either Richard Rios or Gabriel Menino is set to start in centre-midfield alongside Ze Rafael, with top scorer Raphael Veiga – who has found the net 11 times in all tournaments this term – expected to continue in the number 10 role in between wingers Artur and Dudu.
Endrick, who will join Real Madrid in 2024, scored his first Copa Libertadores goal as a late substitute last time out, and the 16-year-old forward will be pushing for his first start in the competition ahead of Rony.
As for Bolivar, San Jose is expected to stick with a 3-4-3 formation which will likely see Diego Bejarano and Roberto Fernandez operate on the flanks either side of midfield pair Villamil and Leonel Justiniano.
Pablo Hervias scored in the group-stage win over Palmeiras in April and the Spanish attacker could be handed a start in the front three alongside Patito Rodriguez and top scorer Ronnie Fernandez, who has found the net 14 times in 17 games so far this season.
Palmeiras possible starting lineup:
Weverton; Mayke, Luan, Gomez, Piquerez; Ze Rafael, Menino; Artur, Veiga, Dudu, Rony
Bolivar possible starting lineup:
Lampe; Jo. Sagredo, Bentaberry, Ferreyra; Bejarano, Villamil, Justiniano, Rob. Fernandez; Hervias, Ron. Fernandez, Rodriguez
We say: Palmeiras 2-2 Bolivar
Palmeiras looked an unstoppable force on home soil until they suffered defeat to Botafogo last weekend, and returning to winning ways is not a given for the Alviverde considering that they have already lost to Bolivar this season.
Indeed, the visitors head to Brazil in buoyant mood needing just a draw to claim top spot in Group C and we believe that the Bolivian side will pick up the point they need in an entertaining contest at Allianz Parque.
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