River vs Palmeiras: Gallardo and Ferreira gear up for a chess match at the Monumental

The Monumental is preparing for a Copa Libertadores night that promises to be epic. River Plate welcomes Palmeiras in the first leg of the quarterfinals, in a clash that is not only footballing but also strategic: Marcelo Gallardo and Abel Ferreira, two of the most respected coaches in South America, will put their tactical skills to the test in one of the most eagerly awaited duels of the tournament.

Gallardo decides on strategic variations

El Millonario arrives motivated after beating Estudiantes 2-1 in La Plata. Gallardo tried a three-man defense and was satisfied with the team's performance, although he did not confirm whether he will repeat the formation against Palmeiras. The big question is who will replace the suspended Giuliano Galoppo, with Kevin Castaño set to start.

River's possible lineup would be: Franco Armani; Gonzalo Montiel, Lucas Martínez Quarta, Paulo Díaz, Marcos Acuña; Enzo Pérez, Nacho Fernández, Kevin Castaño or Juanfer Quintero; Sebastián Driussi, Facundo Colidio, and Maxi Salas.

Palmeiras arrives undefeated but with doubts

Verdao is coming off a 4-1 win over Inter de Porto Alegre and has gone 10 games without a loss. However, Abel Ferreira still has two key doubts in his lineup: the right back position, between Agustín Giay and Khellven, and the midfield, where Andreas Pereira could replace Lucas Evangelista.

Palmeiras' possible strategy: Weverton; Khellven or Giay, Gustavo Gómez, Murilo Cerqueira, Joaquín Piquerez; Aníbal Moreno, Evangelista or Pereira; Mauricio, Felipe Anderson, José López; and Vítor Roque.

A Monumental stadium that promises to be a match to remember

For Gallardo's team, this match will be key to deciding the series, as a good result at home could tip the balance before the return leg in São Paulo.

The last time they met was in the 2021 semifinals, where Palmeiras won 3-0 in Buenos Aires and River was one goal away from catching up with them in Brazil.
This new edition promises revenge, intensity, and excitement until the very end.