Palmeiras host Sporting Cristal at Allianz Parque on Thursday, April 16, at 7 p.m. Brasília time in the second round of the 2026 Conmebol Libertadores, with Abel Ferreira back on the bench and a first win in the group stage in sight.
Palmeiras drew their opener and sit third in Group F, while Sporting Cristal lead the section on three points. Cerro Porteño also have three points after two matches, and Junior Barranquilla are bottom with one point, leaving the group tight after one round of fixtures for each side.
Ferreira’s presence matters because his domestic suspension from the STJD does not apply in the Libertadores. Conmebol cleared him to lead Palmeiras in the competition, and he has responded by selecting the same lineup that started the Derby last weekend, when Palmeiras and their city rivals played to a 0-0 draw in the Brasileirão.
That choice points to continuity at a moment when Palmeiras need a result more than a reset. The draw last weekend showed a team capable of staying compact, but the trip through the group table now carries a different kind of pressure: Palmeiras need to turn control into goals, and they need to do it against the side that arrives top of the group.
Sporting Cristal can leave São Paulo with their lead intact if they manage the pace and frustrate Palmeiras again. For Palmeiras, the night is about more than avoiding another draw. It is about taking the first step that keeps Group F from slipping away before the competition has even settled.
