Ldu Quito Vs. Palmeiras: Preview, Predictions And Lineups

The 2025 Copa Libertadores semifinals are upon us, pinch Ecuadorian broadside LDU Quito hosting three-time winners Palmeiras successful nan first limb of their necktie connected Thursday evening.

LDU Quito person only prevailed successful this title erstwhile backmost successful 2008, and are nan underdogs to beforehand into this year’s final. They’re facing up against their 3rd Brazilian outfit connected nan rotation during nan knockout stages, having already downed past year’s winners Botafogo and São Paulo to scope this phase.

The Ecuadorians besides topped their group which contained Flamengo, who are competing successful nan different semifinal against Argentinian outfit Racing Club.

Palmeiras were defeated 3–2 by Flamengo astatine nan weekend, but person been successful scintillating shape passim nan 2025 Libertadores. After winning each six group games, Abel Ferreira’s broadside person flooded Universitario and River Plate pinch easiness successful nan knockouts.

In nan summer, nan Verdão reached nan semifinals of nan Club World Cup earlier succumbing to Chelsea, and person continued to impressment contempt losing hotshot winger Estêváo and midfielder Richard Ríos.

Here is Sports Illustrated’s guideline to this Copa Libertadores duel.

LDU Quito vs. Palmeiras Head-to-Head Record (All Games)

Current Form (All Competitions)

How to watch LDU Quito vs. Palmeiras connected TV

Veteran striker Lisandro Alzugaray is Quito’s starring scorer successful nan competition. / Schneyder Mendoza/AFP/Getty Images

35-year-old Lisandro Alzugaray is LDU Quito’s starring scorer successful this competition, and though nan hosts person younger alternatives successful attack, Tiago Retzlaff Nunes will apt redeploy nan Argentine successful his beforehand 2 connected Thursday.

They’re group to beryllium without Alejandro Cabeza again done injury, while midfielder Fernando Cornejo is suspended for nan first limb owed to yellowish paper accumulation. He’ll beryllium disposable for nan return limb successful Brazil.

Another striker, Alex Arce, had started nan Libertadores brightly, but he’s since joined Independiente Rivadavia successful Argentina.

LDU Quito Predicted Lineup vs. Palmeiras

The hosts are nan underdogs of this semifinal. / FotMob

LDU Quito Predicted Lineup vs. Palmeiras (3-5-2): Valle; Allala, Adé, Mina; Quintero, Milla, Gruezo, Villamíl, Quiñónez; Estrada, Alzugaray.

Vitor Roque returned to his homeland earlier this year. / Richard Callis/Sports Press Photo/Getty Images

While Estêváo and Ríos person exited for Europe, nan Palmeiras squad still boasts respective acquainted names.

The visitors person nan in-form Vitor Roque starring their onslaught aft he returned to his homeland from Barcelona earlier this year. Roque didn’t connection overmuch astatine nan Club World Cup successful nan summer, but he’s scored 10 goals successful his erstwhile 9 games.

Former Fulham playmaker Andreas Pereira and ex-West Ham United winger Felipe Anderson will purpose to work Roque and joint-leading scorer successful nan 2025 Libertadores, José Manuel López, connected Thursday evening.

On nan wounded front, Palmeiras are without goalkeeper Weverton, arsenic good arsenic Paulinha and Lucas Evangelista.

Palmeiras Predicted Lineup vs. LDU Quito

Ferreira’s XI will look different from nan Club World Cup. / FotMob

Palmeiras Predicted Lineup vs. LDU Quito (4-1-3-2): Miguel; Khellven, Fuchs, Gómez, Piquerez; Moreno; Mauricio, Pereira, Anderson; Roque, López.

Palmeiras are nan large favorites to advancement into nan final, but winning distant successful this title is hard, pinch nan games typically gritty and debased scoring.

The hosts are yet to concede astatine location successful nan 2025 Libertadores, and person unopen retired 3 Brazilian sides, including semifinalists Flamengo, successful nan Ecuadorian capital. And while this Palmeiras squad boasts nan astir prima powerfulness retired of immoderate broadside they’ve faced truthful far, they’ll return plentifulness of assurance from their erstwhile successes connected location soil.

A stalemate could beryllium successful nan offing, but Palmeiras will beryllium much than contented pinch that up of adjacent week’s return leg.

Prediction: LDU Quito 0–0 Palmeiras

READ THE LATEST SOCCER NEWS, TRANSFER RUMORS AND MATCH REACTION