Preview: Palmeiras vs. Atletico Mineiro - prediction, team news, lineups

The hosts are in the driving seat in the tie, having come from two goals behind to draw 2-2 away from home last week.

Match preview

Indeed, Abel Ferreira seems to be unable to do anything wrong as Palmeiras head coach at the moment, with his side even rescuing precarious positions such as the one they found themselves in at Mineirão last week.

Hulk's penalty and Murilo's own goal, which both came a matter of minutes either side of the half-time interval, left Palmeiras in a sticky situation as they seek to win the Copa Libertadores for the third successive season.

However, defender Murilo made amends by pulling one goal back in the 59th minute, before Danilo's injury-time equaliser sparked wild celebrations among the away end and bench alike.

Having recorded their fifth straight league win to extend their lead at the top of Serie A to six points at the weekend, Verdão will rightly head into Wednesday evening's second leg full of confidence that they will progress into the semi-finals of the competition.

Reigning league champions Atletico Mineiro, on the other hand, lost their third consecutive league match to slide down to seventh in the table, and they will be kicking themselves having squandered a two-goal lead on home soil to Palmeiras in a huge Copa Libertadores clash.

Cuca, who ended the club's 50-year wait for a domestic title triumph after incredibly bagging the domestic treble last season, has so far failed to make the desired positive impact after returning to his role as head coach on 25 July.

In fairness, those same words would not have been ushered after Murilo had inadvertently diverted the ball into his own net to provide Galo with a healthy two-goal cushion during last week's second leg.

However, Cuca's side's defensive frailties reared their ugly head once again, with the weekend's 3-2 defeat at home to Athletico Paranaense making it four matches in a row that they have conceded two or more goals in a game.

That does not bode well ahead of an away trip to arguably the strongest side on the continent at this moment in time, so attack could well end up becoming Atletico Mineiro's best form of defence.

Palmeiras Copa Libertadores form:

Palmeiras form (all competitions):

Atletico Mineiro Copa Libertadores form:

Atletico Mineiro form (all competitions):

Team News

Palmeiras will continue to be without Henri, as the defender continues his rehabilitation from a tibia and fibula fracture.

Ferreira made six changes for the weekend's comfortable 3-0 victory over Goias, suggesting his priority lies with retaining the Copa Libertadores.

As such, we can expect the likes of first leg goalscorers Danilo and Murilo to return to the starting XI, with Jose Manuel Lopez likely to receive the nod in attack.

Atletico Mineiro, meanwhile, will travel without Cristian Pavon as the Argentina winger is suspended.

Cuca rotated even more heavily than his opposing manager, making a total of nine changes at the weekend, which perhaps contributed to his side's home defeat to Athletico-PR.

With retaining the title an incredibly unlikely proposition, all of the 59-year-old's eggs understandably appear to be in the Copa Libertadores basket.

Hulk will return to lead the line as his side's greatest chance of recording an upset, with Paraguay international Junior Alonso likely to return to the heart of the defence.

Palmeiras possible starting lineup:

Weverton; Rocha, Gomez, Murilo, Piquerez; Danilo, Ze Rafael; Dudu, Veiga, Scarpa; Lopez

Atletico Mineiro possible starting lineup:

Everson; Mariano, Natan, Alonso, Rubens; Jair, Otavio; Ademir, Zaracho, Keno; Hulk

We say: Palmeiras 2-1 Atletico Mineiro

Atletico Mineiro will give it their all, but we expect Palmeiras to record a narrow victory with home advantage on their side.

The hosts are in irrepressible form right now and their big game-winning experience is unrivalled having won this competition twice in a row.

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