Palmeiras will be without Jefté, Ramón Sosa, and Paulinho, who are all injured and will not play, as well as Andreas Pereira, who will be suspended for the match following his expulsion in the previous round against Cerro Porteño. This leaves Abel Ferreira with a tough task in selecting a team that can create a significant advantage in the first leg, crucial in reducing pressure when they travel to Quito in the next week.
The team's injury list has been a concern all season, and it has been exacerbated by the recent loss of leadership in the Brasileiro. In contrast, last year at this time, Palmeiras had only one absence for the quarterfinals of the Libertadores, with Paulinho being the only player missing due to surgery. The team has since added three new players, including Carlos Miguel, Jefté, and Andreas Pereira, but they will not be available for this match.
Abel Ferreira has stated that the team will have to adapt to the current situation and prepare game by game. The team's roster has become more qualified, with players like Arias and Marlon Freitas available, but they will have to make do without some of their key players.
The match against LDU will be a crucial test for Palmeiras, and Abel Ferreira will have to make some tough decisions in selecting a team that can create a significant advantage in the first leg.