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LIVE! Palmeiras vs. Cerro Porteño in the 2026 Copa Libertadores on beIN SPORTS
The 2026 Copa Libertadores enters the knockout stage with a matchup that already has plenty of history from this very edition. Palmeiras hosts Cerro Porteño in São Paulo in the first leg of the Round of 16, with two teams that know each other extremely well after sharing Group F.
And if the group stage proved anything, it is that the Brazilian side cannot afford to take anything for granted.
Cerro Porteño finished top of the group, while Palmeiras, a finalist in the previous edition, had to settle for second place. Now they meet again, but this time every mistake could prove costly.
Palmeiras Looks for Revenge at Home
Abel Ferreira’s team once again enters the Copa Libertadores knockout stage as one of the most experienced sides on the continent.
The Verdão is chasing its fourth title after winning the tournament in 1999, 2020 and 2021, but its path through the current edition has not been as dominant as in some of its recent campaigns.
Palmeiras opened the group stage with a draw against Junior, then defeated Sporting Cristal and led Group F for a significant portion of the competition. However, its head-to-head meetings with Cerro Porteño ultimately changed the picture.
In Asunción, the two teams played to a 1-1 draw. Jhon Arias gave the Brazilian side the lead before a move started by Juan Manuel Iturbe ended with an own goal from Carlos Miguel, giving the Ciclón the equalizer.
But the biggest blow came later in São Paulo.
Cerro Porteño defeated Palmeiras 1-0 thanks to a goal from Pablo Vegetti, ending the Verdão’s unbeaten home run in the Libertadores that had stretched back to 2021. The victory also allowed the Paraguayan side to take control of the group.
Now Palmeiras has an immediate opportunity for revenge.
The return of Gustavo Gómez could be an important boost for Abel Ferreira. The Paraguayan defender returned to training after overcoming physical problems, and his presence could restore balance to a defense that will need to contain the opponent’s direct play and, in particular, Vegetti’s presence inside the penalty area.
Cerro Porteño Has Already Proven It Can Win in São Paulo
If there is one team that can arrive at this match without fear, it is Cerro Porteño.
Ariel Holan’s side already knows what it takes to win at this venue and finished the group stage with three consecutive victories to claim first place in Group F.
One of the Ciclón’s biggest difference-makers during that run was Pablo Vegetti.
The Argentine striker scored the winner against Junior in Barranquilla with a shot from outside the box and later delivered again to give his team the victory over Palmeiras in Brazil.
Cerro Porteño then closed the group stage with a 2-0 victory over Sporting Cristal, confirming its place at the top of the group and reaching the Round of 16 for a second consecutive season.
However, the Paraguayan side’s current form adds another question heading into the matchup.
Following the break caused by the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Cerro has struggled to rediscover its best form in the Paraguayan league. Even so, the Libertadores has brought out a different version of the Ciclón, particularly when it needs to protect a lead and compete in tight matches.
A Matchup That Has Become Familiar in the Libertadores
Palmeiras and Cerro Porteño have become very familiar opponents in the tournament.
Before the start of the 2026 edition, they had faced each other 16 times in the Copa Libertadores, with the Brazilian side holding a clear historical advantage: 10 victories for the Verdão, four draws and only two wins for the Paraguayan club.
But what happened during this year’s competition has slightly changed the recent story.
The 1-1 draw in Asunción and, especially, Cerro Porteño’s 1-0 victory in São Paulo showed that the Ciclón has found a way to compete against Abel Ferreira’s team.
Now the situation will be completely different.
There are no points to recover and no later group-stage matches to correct mistakes.
It is 180 minutes for a place among the eight best teams in South America.
Palmeiras will need to make the most of its home advantage and avoid traveling to Paraguay needing a comeback, while Cerro Porteño will try to repeat the formula that already allowed it to leave São Paulo with a victory during the group stage.
Match: Palmeiras vs. Cerro Porteño
Competition: 2026 Copa Libertadores
Round: Round of 16 – First Leg
Date: Wednesday, August 12, 2026
Time: 5:50 PM ET / 2:50 PM PT
Stadium: Arena Palmeiras, São Paulo, Brazil
Broadcast: beIN SPORTS CONNECT
