Palmeiras can become the first team since Boca Juniors in 2015 to finish the group stage of the Copa Libertadores with an unblemished record as they host Deportivo Tachira at Allianz Parque on Tuesday with kickoff at 3:30 am.
After earning back-to-back Copa Libertadores titles, Abel Ferreira knew that his team would be the one to beat in this tournament. Palestra has dominated many statistical categories, allowing the fewest goals while scoring 21.
This is eight more than Flamengo, the next closest with 13 goals scored this season. After becoming only the second team to win this tournament on consecutive occasions, there is a feeling that this group could be the first side in nearly 50 years to capture the Libertadores on three successive occasions.
The last club to achieve such a feat was Independiente between 1972 and 1975, when the Argentines won the competition four times.
When faced with a must-win match against a Libertadores powerhouse, 19-year-old Alexandre Pallares delivered for Aurinegro, scoring multiple goals for the second time in the group stage, winning 3-0.
Four of their seven points at this tournament have come away from home, giving them a slight boost of confidence going up against a side who have scored 23 goals in their last five group matches played on home soil at the Libertadores.
Palmeiras vs Deportivo Tachira Head to Head
Both sides have three games against each other with hosts taking three wins while visitors still winless. Here is a look at their previous encounters:
Home
- Juventude 0-3 Palmeiras
- Palmeiras 1-0 Emelec
- Palmeiras 2-0 Braganinto
- Juazeirense 2-0 Braganinto
Away
- Mineros de Guayana 1-2 Deportivo
- Deportivo Tachira 3-0 Independiente Petrolero
- Derportivo Tachira 2-2 Portuguesa
- Metropolitanos 1-1 Tachira
Palmeiras Team News
Raphael Veiga has scored six goals in the opening round for Palmeiras, matching his total from 2021, though Rafael Navarro is in the lead for the Golden Boot with seven strikes. In their previous encounter, Danilo fired home the winner, a 1-0 win over Emelec, his first of the competition.
Tachira Team News
Robert Hernandez scored a brace on Matchday Five, and Renny Simisterra had a 92nd minute winner for Deportivo. Diego Valdes only had to make three saves to collect the clean sheet as several changes were made to their starting 11 compared to what we saw in their previous match.
Prediction and Odds
We anticipate a clean swoop by the hosts, given their current form and goal-scoring streak in the competition.
- Palmeiras Win
- Goals Over 2.5
- No Score: Away
