Palmeiras vs Cerro Porteno headlines the first leg of the Copa Libertadores Round of 16 on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, with kickoff set for 6:00 PM ET at Palmeiras' home stadium in Brazil. The matchup pits two clubs with contrasting recent form against each other in a tie that carries significant weight for both sides' hopes of advancing in South America's top club competition.
How to Watch Palmeiras vs Cerro Porteno in the USA
Fans in the United States can watch Palmeiras vs Cerro Porteno on beIN SPORTS and beIN SPORTS en Espanol. Streaming options include Fubo and beIN SPORTS CONNECT. Viewers looking for a free option can sign up for Fubo's 5-day free trial, provided they are an eligible new subscriber, which includes access to the channels broadcasting the match.
Kickoff times across the United States are as follows:
Eastern Time (ET): 6:00 PM Central Time (CT): 5:00 PM Mountain Time (MT): 4:00 PM Pacific Time (PT): 3:00 PM
For those traveling abroad or facing geo-restrictions, a VPN service such as ExpressVPN can help bypass blackout restrictions by virtually changing a device's location to a country where the game is being broadcast. The general process involves downloading a VPN app, connecting to a server in a country carrying the match, clearing browser cache to remove old location data, and then streaming through the broadcaster's website or app. On smart TVs and devices like Amazon Fire TV Stick or Google Chromecast, VPN apps can often be installed directly, while Apple TV, Roku and consoles typically require Smart DNS settings or mirroring the stream from a connected phone or laptop.
What's at Stake
Palmeiras enter this Round of 16 first leg sitting second in their Copa Libertadores group, while Cerro Porteño top the standings in Group F, meaning the outcome carries direct implications for progression to the next round. Both sides are well aware of what's on the line.
Palmeiras' recent form has been uneven. Abel Ferreira's side drew 0-0 with Internacional in Brasileirão Série A on August 9, a result that followed a 3-2 Copa do Brasil defeat to Fortaleza. Earlier in that stretch, Palmeiras beat Fortaleza 3-0 in the Cup and thrashed Vitória 4-0 away in Serie A, though a 2-1 league loss to Atlético MG also featured. Across their last five matches in all competitions, Palmeiras have won two, drawn one and lost two, scoring nine goals while conceding five. At home specifically, Palmeiras have just two defeats in their last 23 matches and are unbeaten in their last two.
Cerro Porteño arrive under more pressure despite a strong continental run. Ariel Holan's side have lost three of their last four matches in Paraguay's División Profesional, including a 1-0 defeat to Sportivo Ameliano on August 8. They also dropped points against 2 de Mayo and Sportivo Trinidense in that stretch, with a 3-0 win over Sportivo Luqueño on August 1 standing out as their lone recent domestic bright spot. Even so, Cerro Porteño's continental form remains impressive, with four wins in their last five matches overall and a 2-0 win over Sporting Cristal in their most recent Copa Libertadores outing in May. Away from home, however, Cerro Porteño have managed just one draw in their last 13 matches and are coming off back-to-back away defeats.
Team News and Injuries
Palmeiras will be without several key players. Bruno Fuchs is out following an appendicitis procedure, while Paulinho, Gustavo Gómez, Khellven and Jefté are all sidelined with muscle injuries. Abel Ferreira will need to navigate these absences against a Cerro Porteño side missing Gabriel Aguayo, who is recovering from surgery, and left-back Blas Riveros, whose absence represents a significant loss for the Paraguayan club across this two-legged series.
In Palmeiras' most recent starting lineup against Internacional, the XI featured Carlos Miguel, Emiliano Martínez, Murilo, Alexander Barboza, Allan Elias, Marlon Freitas, Andreas Pereira, Joaquín Piquerez, Maurício, Ramón Sosa and Jhon Arias. Cerro Porteño's last starting XI against Sportivo Ameliano included Manuel Roffo, Matías Pérez, Gustavo Velázquez, Iván Ramírez, Piris da Motta, Jorge Morel, Fabricio Domínguez, Mateo Klimowicz, Alexis Cañete, Pablo Vegetti and Cecilio Domínguez.
Head-to-Head History
The history between these two clubs favors Palmeiras significantly. The teams have met 18 times overall, with Palmeiras winning ten, Cerro Porteño three, and five ending in draws — all of those meetings coming in the Copa Libertadores. At Palmeiras' home stadium specifically, the Brazilian side has won five of nine meetings, with Cerro Porteño taking three victories.
However, recent history offers Cerro Porteño some encouragement. The most recent meeting between the sides came in May 2026, when Cerro Porteño secured a surprise 1-0 win at Palmeiras' home ground during the Copa Libertadores group stage. Before that, the two clubs played to a 1-1 draw in Asunción in April 2026. Across their last five Copa Libertadores meetings, Palmeiras have won two, Cerro Porteño one, with two draws, and Palmeiras holding a 7-3 edge in goals scored over that span.
On the touchline, Abel Ferreira has faced Ariel Holan twice, recording one draw and one defeat, while Holan has faced Palmeiras as a club on two occasions with one win and one draw. Ferreira's record against Cerro Porteño specifically is far stronger, with six wins, one draw and one defeat in eight meetings.
With both sides carrying inconsistent domestic form into this tie but plenty riding on qualification, Wednesday's first leg promises to be tightly contested. Palmeiras will look to lean on home advantage and their superior overall head-to-head record, while Cerro Porteño will hope their recent Libertadores momentum — and the psychological boost of last season's win at this same venue — can carry them through the first leg of this Round of 16 clash.
