Soccer
Competition: Copa Libertadores
Market: Palmeiras win
Odds: 19/20 @ 1xBet
Getting their Copa Libertadores adventure underway in the early hours of Thursday, Palmeiras will travel to Colombia when they meet Junior.
Starting with the hosts, while Junior might have opened up the 2026 campaign with their sights set on mounting a genuine Primera A title charge, the Sharks have struggled to find any real stability. Last seen over the weekend getting April underway with a disappointing 2-1 defeat at home against Deportivo Cali, Alfredo Arias’ squad will certainly be bracing themselves for another monumental challenge here. Pencilled in as an underdog contender at the Estadio Metropolitano Roberto Melendez, Junior have also registered consecutive victories across all competitions on just a single occasion since the start of February. Falling to a routine 3-0 drumming when they last met Palmeiras for a Copa Libertadores showdown back in April 2019, Los Quilleros will also be concerned by a nightmare record against the Brazilian giants. In fact, including a 2-0 loss when they last welcomed Thursday’s guests to Colombia, it should be noted that Junior have lost all of their four historic battles against the Greens by an aggregate score of 11-1.
As for the visitors, embarking on what has become a sensational purple patch since opening up the 2026 campaign, Palmeiras certainly find the mood in their camp at a red-hot high. Continuing on a real romp on either side of March’s International break, Abel Ferreira’s high-flying squad will be excited to get their Copa Libertadores adventure underway in the early hours of Thursday. Marking their return from March’s fortnight interval with consecutive 2-1 victories against Bahia and Gremio, the Greens are leading the chase at the top of the Serie A standings and they already hold a five-point buffer over the chasing pack. In fact, Palmeiras have won all of their last five straight domestic appearances by an aggregate score of 8-3. In fact, the Brazilian powerhouse have registered 25 points from their first 10 Serie A showdowns and they have rightfully received a fearsome reputation. Likewise, winning 11 of their last 12 matchups across all competitions, Ferreira’s side will be looking to make an opening Group F statement on foreign soil.
Bet: Palmeiras 19/20 to beat Junior in Thursday’s Copa Libertadores opener @ 1xBet
Read MoreTom Dunstan