Palmeiras vs Junior Predictions, Betting Tips and Match Previews

Thursday’s Copa Libertadores clash sees Colombians Junior travelling to Palmeiras knowing anything but a win would likely leave them eliminated from the competition.

Nonetheless, with a win ensuring Palmeiras finish the group stage as the top ranked team, thereby giving them a knockout match against the lowest ranked qualifying side, the side won’t be holding back in the fixture. Boss Roger Machado may make a few changes for the clash amidst a packed schedule, but there’s no doubting that whatever team takes to the field will have the quality to build on a 7 match Libertadores unbeaten record as hosts, 6 of which coming from wins.

Palmeiras came into the competition as one of the outright favourites and have certainly lived up that billing, winning all of their group games thus far, barring a home draw with Boca, including a fantastic 3-0 win away at Junior themselves. Those that line-up for the hosts on Thursday will be desperate to put on a show for the home crowd, arriving off the back of disappointment due to weekend derby defeat to Corinthians; the first stain on an otherwise fantastic season.

It’s simply do or die for Junior, who face the mammoth task of having to secure victory at the Allianz Parque. The Colombians are at least in with a shout of making it through unexpectedly, but that’s more down to Boca’s poor showings than Junior’s own strength, with all but one of Los Tiburones’ 7 point total coming from wins over group whipping boys Alianza Lima.

Julio Comesaña’s troops don’t travel to Brazil in good spirits either, having lost the first leg of their domestic play-off with Independiente Medellin on home soil, leaving them with a big task in the return fixture this weekend. A Libertadores away record that reads 5 defeats from the last 9 hardly inspires confidence either, and the visitors have also failed to find the net in 3 of their last 4 away games in the competition, magnifying the magnitude of the task at hand.

Ultimately, this kind of price on a Palmeiras home win is normally reserved for games against the continent’s real heavyweights, something Junior certainly aren’t. The price likely comes as a result of the changes expected to be made in home ranks, but all sources suggest quite a strong XI will be fielded nonetheless, with plenty of regular starters included.

Overall, Junior simply don’t look like having the quality to win this match and we’re more than happy to back Palmeiras at current odds. The hosts will want to qualify as top seeds and should do exactly that, with a 1-0 margin of victory on the cards.

Palmeiras possible starting XI: Jailson; Rocha, Antônio Carlos, Martins, Bastos; Melo, Guerra, Thiago Santos, Lima, Scarpa; Borja.

Junior possible starting XI: Viera; Gutiérrez, Pérez, Rodríguez, Piedrahita; Pico, Cantillo, González, Chará; Gutiérrez, Ruiz.