Palmeiras vs Cerro Porteno Predictions

• Brazilian league leaders Palmeiras thrashed Cerro Porteno 3-0 away from home in the first leg of this Copa Libertadores last-16 tie last week.
• The hosts have scored the most goals (27) and conceded the fewest (12) in the Brazilian top flight this year.
• Palmeiras scored 17 goals in seven games before losing to Athletico Paranaense on Saturday.
• Cerro Porteno have registered three losses and one draw in their last four Libertadores outings.

Libertadores champions expected to progress comfortably

As well as sitting atop the Brazilian Serie A with both the best attacking (27 goals scored) and defensive (12 conceded) records in the top flight, Copa Libertadores holders Palmeiras will be anticipating another tilt at continental glory after following up a perfect group-stage campaign with a 3-0 thrashing of Cerro Porteno last week, with the Paraguayan outfit holding out little hope of a spectacular turnaround.

Indeed, Abel Ferreira’s men scored 25 goals and conceded just three times in winning all six Libertadores group games, and only saw a 19-match unbeaten run ended by fellow Serie A title hopefuls Athletico Paranaense last time out. Palmeiras had scored 27 goals in a seven-match sequence before that unfortunate 2-0 reverse, in which they enjoyed 71 per cent possession and recorded an incredible 35 shots, and they should get back on track in routine fashion here.

While Cerro Porteno did enjoy a strong domestic campaign, finishing as runners-up behind Libertad, they’ve not won any of their last four Libertadores games, losing three and failing to score on three occasions. They progressed from a weak group courtesy of taking seven points from their first three fixtures, and look hard pushed to compete with the Verdao in Sao Paulo.

Palmeiras can beat handicap again

Palmeiras’ fantastic goalscoring record in the Libertadores and recent success over Cerro Porteno makes them overwhelming favourites to add to their comfortable first-leg lead, and the fact their next league game is against rock-bottom Fortaleza should see them fully focused on the task at hand.

Backing the hosts to beat a -1 handicap thus looks a no-brainer for this contest, and a repeat of their 3-0 first-leg win could be a prudent correct score prediction.

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