Palmeiras begin Libertadores with 1-1 draw for Junior Barranquilla

Palmeiras start dia 2026 Copa Libertadores journey with one draw for away ground. The match happen for Wednesday, 8th April, for the Jaime Morón León Stadium for Cartagena, Colombia. Junior Barranquilla, wey dem dey call ‘El Tiburón’, be the host team.

Junior open score quick-quick. Just 10 minutes into the match, Mauricio commit penalty. Veteran striker Teo Gutiérrez, wey dey 40 years old, collect the ball for penalty spot. He score am, give Junior early 1-0 lead. The early goal shake Palmeiras small.

For first half, Palmeiras try press Junior after the goal. But the Colombian team hold dia ground well. The ‘Verdão’ no fit find equalizer before half-time whistle blow. The team go enter break with one goal down.

Second half come with different story. Palmeiras return with better play. Coach Abel Ferreira make changes, bring in Ramón Sosa from bench. The substitution work magic. Sosa find net, score the equalizing goal for Palmeiras. The score become 1-1.

After the equalizer, Palmeiras continue to press for winning goal. The team create chances but no fit convert am. Junior too hold firm for defence. Match end 1-1, both teams share points.

After final whistle, Palmeiras captain Gustavo Gómez talk about the match. He say the draw be fair result. ‘We try for first half, by luck we equalize for second half. We fight till end to get three points,’ Gómez yarn. The captain mention say the pitch condition and weather affect play. He also talk about tiredness from previous match for Salvador.

‘We know say the match go hard because of all the context,’ Gómez add. ‘We try till end, we get chance but we no convert am.’ The defender talk true true about the challenges.

With this result, Palmeiras get dia first point for Libertadores group stage. Junior Barranquilla too get one point. The two teams now dey top of Group F table. But the group still open because Sporting Cristal and Cerro Porteño never play dia match.

For other Libertadores matches for Wednesday, Flamengo win away match for Peru. Bruno Henrique and Giorgian De Arrascaeta score for Flamengo 2-0 win over Cusco. For another surprise, Mirassol beat Lanús 1-0 for Brazil. Joao Victor score the only goal for that match.

Now Palmeiras attention turn to Brazilian Série A. The team go face Corinthians for Sunday, 12th April. The match go hold for Neo Química Arena for São Paulo. Time na 6:30pm Brasília time. This na for 11th round of Brazilian championship.

The draw for Colombia no too bad for Palmeiras. Away point for Libertadores dey important. But the team know say dem need win dia home matches to qualify from group. The journey just start, plenty matches remain.