Palmeiras have a chance to become the first team since Boca Juniors in 2015 to finish the group stage of the Copa Libertadores with a 100% record as they host Deportivo Tachira at Allianz Parque on Tuesday.
Through their first five games, the reigning club champions of South America have been dominant, conceding only twice, while the Venezuelans need a win to assure their place in the last 16, currently two points above Emelec for second in Group A.
Match preview
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Coming into this tournament with back-to-back Copa Libertadores titles, Abel Ferreira knew that his group would be the team to beat, and after five encounters, that is still very much the case.
Palestra have dominated in several statistical categories, allowing the fewest goals while scoring 21 themselves, which is eight more than the next closest team (Flamengo) in the competition.
After becoming only the second team this century to win this event 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 in a row.
Ferreira is usually quick to deflect praise thrown his way, instead saying that his players' belief has propelled them to numerous triumphs.
In a short period of just over 16 months, the Portuguese boss has seen his team capture five trophies, quite the feat when considering how quickly clubs tend to sack managers in Brazil.
He loves the element of surprise and rarely goes with one specific set of tactics every game, which has propelled his team to a 12-match unbeaten run in all competitions heading into this encounter.
When they strike first, it can feel like a mountainous task to find a way back into the game, as Palestra love to sit deep while exploiting the counterattack and exposing other teams' defensive frailties.
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Aurinegro needed a big performance on matchday five, and Alexandre Pallares saw his side deliver, 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.
No Venezuelan club has ever beaten the mighty Palmeiras in this competition, though Tachira came close in 2005, losing by a single goal (2-1) in the group stage.
Following a 4-0 loss to Verdao in their opening match of this tournament, Pallares changed his set-up, going with a traditional 4-4-2 formation, which has drastically improved them on the back end, conceding a goal or fewer in three of their last four matches.
Since late March, they have not lost a game when leading at the half, conceding twice inside the final 10 minutes to drop a 2-1 decision to Universidad Central.
Deportivo are at their best when they can keep a flat line in midfield and stretch the opposition, with their fullbacks providing an additional option out wide.
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Team News
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Raphael Veiga has 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, notching a brace in their opening match against Tachira.
Danilo fired home the winner in their previous encounter, a 1-0 win over Emelec, his first of the competition, while Navarro moved to within one of Wesley for the team lead in assists by setting up that goal.
Ze Rafael and Rony each scored in the first-half of their domestic triumph over Juventude this past weekend (3-0), Weverton collected his fourth successive clean sheet in all competitions, while Dudu and Benjamin Kuscevic each picked up an assist.
A brace from Robert Hernandez on matchday five and a 92nd-minute strike from Renny Simisterra gave Deportivo a comfortable 3-0 victory, as Diego Valdes only had to make three saves to collect the clean sheet.
Several changes were made to their starting 11 on matchday five compared to what we saw with their lineup on Matchday Four.
Valdes, Pablo Camacho, Jean Gutierrez, Robert Hernandez and Edder Farias replaced Cristopher Varela, Nelson Hernandez, Richard Figueroa, Robert Garces and Renny Simisterra.
Edson Tortolero had a brace in their 2-1 victory over Mineros de Guayana on Saturday, while Anthony Uribe has two goals in this competition.
Palmeiras possible starting lineup:
Weverton; Mayke, Luan, Gomez, Vanderlan; Fabinho, Danilo; Rony, Wesley, Atuesta; Lopes
Deportivo Tachira possible starting lineup:
Valdes; Camacho, Gutierrez, Marrufo, Benitez; Chacon, Cova, Flores, R. Hernandez; Uribe, Figueroa
We say: Palmeiras 3-0 Deportivo Tachira
Aurinegro will be the more desperate side coming into this contest, which means that Palestra should be able to take their time and wait for the right moment to strike.
Verdao rarely miss opportunities presented to them in front of goal, and they look hungrier than ever to achieve perfection at this competition.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Joel Lefevre
