Junior Barranquilla vs Palmeiras: Prediction, Team News, Lineups Preview

Mo. Basuony

Published: April 8, 2026 8:13 PM ET

Junior Barranquilla vs Palmeiras: Prediction, Team News, Lineups Preview

Junior Barranquilla and Palmeiras meet on Wednesday, April 8, in Cartagena for the opening match of the 2026 Copa Libertadores. The game is scheduled at Estadio Olimpico Jaime Moron and sits in Group F.

Group F also includes Cerro Porteño and Sporting Cristal. The two clubs last faced each other in the 2019 group stage, when Palmeiras won both matches.

Match preview

Junior arrive as Colombian domestic champions, having secured a Libertadores spot by winning the Torneo Finalización. Their best continental run came in 1994, when they reached the semi-finals.

The club topped their 2024 group with ten points but exited in the round of 16. Early 2026 form has been erratic with eight wins, one draw and six losses from 15 league rounds.

Junior sit fifth in the domestic table with 25 points. They lost 2-1 at home to Deportivo Cali at the weekend, with both goals scored by Steven Rodríguez.

Senior squad members include Teófilo Gutiérrez, 40, Yimmi Chará and Luis Muriel. Muriel is the club’s top scorer this season and has past spells at Atalanta and Sevilla.

Palmeiras outlook

Palmeiras return after finishing runners-up in last year’s Libertadores, losing 1-0 to Flamengo in the final in Lima. They arrive in strong domestic form.

The Alviverde beat Bahia 2-1 on April 6, with a goal from Jhon Arias and an own goal by Ramos Mingo. That result was part of a run that includes eight wins from ten Brasileirão rounds.

Palmeiras lead the Brasileirão by five points over São Paulo. Abel Ferreira is preparing for his seventh Libertadores campaign.

Ferreira, 47, has won the competition twice, in 2020 and 2021. His Libertadores record stands at 62 matches: 41 wins, 14 draws and seven losses.

Prediction, Team News and Lineups Preview

Junior report no new injury absentees, but inconsistent home form may force changes. Alfredo Arias could reshuffle the attack, with Bryan Castrillón and Luis Muriel competing for a starting role.

Palmeiras travel with four players in the medical room. Jefté and Piquerez are confirmed absentees, while Paulinho and Vitor Roque trained on Monday and could feature.

Abel Ferreira is unlikely to change the formation that beat Bahia. January signing Jhon Arias has been in excellent form, scoring in three of the club’s last four matches.