Watch River Plate Battle Palmeiras in Copa Libertadores Quarter-Finals

River Plate hosted Palmeiras in the highly anticipated first leg of the Copa Libertadores quarter-finals, with kick-off set for 9:30 PM (Brasília time) on Wednesday, June 17. Both teams, giants in their respective leagues, entered the tie in impressive form, setting the stage for a clash full of tactical intrigue and statistical nuance. The Argentine side, River Plate, came into this match after a 2-1 away win against Estudiantes de La Plata, displaying 45% possession and clinical finishing from Giuliano Galoppo and Ignacio Fernandez. Their Copa Libertadores journey saw them edge past Libertad on penalties after a 1-1 aggregate draw, demonstrating resilience under pressure. River have recorded 6 wins, 1 loss, and 3 draws in their last 10 matches, averaging 2.2 goals from 5.3 shots on target, and dominating possession at 61.8%. Meanwhile, Palmeiras arrived following a commanding 4-1 victory over Internacional in Série A, with Vitor Roque netting a hat-trick and Lucas Evangelista also on the scoresheet. In the round of 16, Abel Ferreira’s men cruised past Universitario with a 4-0 aggregate score. Over their last 10 games, Palmeiras have tallied 7 wins and 3 draws, averaging 2.0 goals from 5.2 shots on target, and maintaining 54.7% possession. The confirmed lineups featured River Plate in a 3-5-2 formation: Franco Armani (GK), Juan Carlos Portillo, Paulo Diaz, Lautaro Rivero, Gonzalo Montiel, Kevin Castano, Enzo Perez, Ignacio Fernandez, Marcos Acuna, Maximiliano Salas, and Sebastian Driussi. Palmeiras deployed a 4-2-3-1: Weverton (GK), Khellven, Gustavo Gomez, Murilo Cerqueira, Joaquin Piquerez, Anibal Moreno, Lucas Evangelista, Andreas Pereira, Jose Lopez, Felipe Anderson, and Vitor Roque. Statistically, River Plate’s attack has been spearheaded by Giuliano Galoppo (4 goals) and Santiago Lencina (3), with Facundo Colidio providing 3 assists. Palmeiras’ Vitor Roque leads their scoring charts with 6 goals, supported by Jose Lopez (4) and creative contributions from both Roque and Mauricio (3 assists each). Historically, these teams share a rich rivalry. In their last Copa Libertadores meeting, River beat Palmeiras 2-0 away in the 2020 semi-final second leg, but Palmeiras advanced 3-2 on aggregate. This context sets up another tightly contested fixture, with bookmakers pricing River Plate at 2.48 to win, Palmeiras at 3.70, and the draw at 2.63. Asian Handicap markets suggest a 58.5% probability for Palmeiras +0.25, but some analysts, including our tipsters, put this closer to 65-70%, highlighting potential value for bettors. Correct score markets favor a low-scoring affair, with under 2.5 goals holding the shortest odds. Maximiliano Salas is the favorite to score first at 5.80, while Palmeiras’ José López offers value at 1.67 for at least one shot on target. For risk-takers, Maurício Magalhães Prado (Palmeiras) is priced at 6.25 to score anytime. For those looking for deeper statistical breakdowns, official Copa Libertadores stats and historical performance data are available on ESPN’s match center. As always, bettors are advised to check the latest team news and confirmed lineups before placing their wagers to maximize their edge.