Prediction for the Cerro Porteño vs Palmeiras match: the teams meet again in a head-to-head clash - 20.08.2026
On August 20th in Asunción, the second leg of the Copa Libertadores round of 16 will see Cerro Porteño face Palmeiras. After the first clash in São Paulo, the intrigue is at its peak: the sides finished 1-1, meaning everything is still up for grabs ahead of the return fixture. If the aggregate score remains level after both matches, the winner will be decided by a penalty shootout.
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For Cerro Porteño, the result of the first leg was an excellent outcome. The Paraguayan side withstood heavy pressure from Palmeiras on their turf and managed to snatch a draw in the dying moments. The Brazilians opened the scoring in the 82nd minute through Flaco López, despite already being down to ten men after Andreas Pereira’s red card. It seemed Palmeiras would escape with the win, but in the final minutes, after an episode involving Pablo Vegetti, the ball found its way into the net—1-1.
Now, the situation looks even more intriguing for Cerro. Ariel Holan’s men have the chance to settle the tie at home, and the “Nueva Olla” will surely be packed to the rafters. The Paraguayans have already shown in this Libertadores campaign that they aren’t intimidated by the Brazilian giants. In fact, Cerro Porteño haven’t lost to Palmeiras at all this season: they drew 1-1 in the group stage and then beat the Brazilians 2-0 in another head-to-head meeting. The first leg of the playoffs ended in another draw.
Palmeiras, meanwhile, have a trickier task ahead. Abel Ferreira’s team must win away if they want to progress without the drama of a penalty shootout. The Brazilians certainly have the firepower: “Verdão” finished second in their group and are among the top contenders for the title. They also remain leaders of the Brazilian league, and their squad boasts a level of individual skill that few can match.
But it’s their finishing that is now under scrutiny. In the first match, Palmeiras enjoyed the upper hand, dominated possession, and created plenty of dangerous chances, but only managed to score once. Even taking the lead didn’t secure the victory. Now, with the pressure even higher away from home, any mistake could spell the end of their Libertadores campaign.
It’s also worth noting that this promises to be a fiercely contested battle. The first leg was emotional, with plenty of physical duels and controversial moments. This time, an Argentine officiating crew led by Facundo Tello will be in charge.
All in all, this is one of those ties where the first-leg score guarantees nothing. Cerro Porteño will have the roaring support of their home fans and will surely try to play more boldly, while Palmeiras will be looking to seize their moment through class and individual brilliance. Don’t expect a cautious approach for the full 90 minutes—there’s simply too much at stake. The hosts have proved a tricky opponent for the Brazilians, so there will be no easy ride for Palmeiras.
My prediction: both teams to score – yes.
