Colo Colo vs Palmeiras Predictions

Friday’s Copa Libertadores quarter final, first leg action sees Chileans Colo Colo playing host to Brazilians Palmeiras. A tight game is expected to be in order as both sides wrestle for control over the tie.

Whatever happens, Colo Colo can be pleased with their work in the Libertadores this season after putting an end to a dismal run that had seen them not make it out of the group stage in over a decade. Nonetheless, having dumped out Corinthians in the last 16, Los Albos are not merely looking to make up the numbers from this point onwards and will be desperate to cause another upset in this tie.

9 points behind leaders Universidad Catolica and in 6th place domestically, Colo Colo are not enjoying a positive year away from the Libertadores but all focus has been on this fixture for quite some time, given it’s their biggest in a number of years. Whilst huge underdogs over two legs, having lost just 1 of their last 10 home games, Colo Colo will be quietly confident of giving the visitors a run for their money in Santiago on Friday.

Meanwhile, possessing one of the strongest squads on the continent, Palmeiras were always likely to be there or thereabouts in the Libertadores reckoning and in their current form, you’d have to have them down as one of the most likely winners.

Verdao had been plagued by inconsistency earlier on in the year but have looked an extremely powerful force since Luiz Felipe Scolari returned as boss, now back in contention for the Serie A title as well as the Libertadores’. Having lost just 1 of their last 10 away games and won 3 of their last 5, Palmeiras will take to the field confident of picking up a positive result and should they do so, they’ll be well in the driving seat with a home leg to come.

Ultimately, over two legs, this is a tie Palmeiras are expected to advance from and should do so, given the disparity in quality each side possesses. Nonetheless, with a capacity crowd expected at the Monumental and Colo Colo a powerful home force, a far closer affair looks likely when taking this match as a standalone fixture.

All things considered, backing the draw looks the best way to play and at an appealing price, that’s exactly where our money is going. With the stakes so high, chances are expected to be at a premium and it’s simply too difficult to separate the two. Colo Colo rarely lose at home, Palmeiras rarely lose away and that theme should continue as they play out a goalless draw; a result that would make it 7 draws from 11 away outings for Palmeiras.