Palestinian vs Grêmio – News and Probable Lineups

Palestino and Gremio will face off in Group F of the Copa Sudamericana at the Estadio Municipal de La Cisterna on Wednesday for matchday three.

Both teams will be aiming for a favorable outcome, with the Brazilian team currently in second place in the group with three points after two matches, while the home side has managed only one point from their first six.

Match overview

Palestino has encountered a tough start to their continental journey, sitting at the bottom of Group F after failing to secure a win in their initial two matches.

Cristian Munoz’s side started the 2026 Copa Sudamericana with a goalless draw against Deportivo Riestra in Argentina on April 8, followed by a 2-0 home defeat to Montevideo City Torque.

Back in Chile, Palestino has been inconsistent in the domestic league, gathering 14 points from 11 matches, placing them 11th in the standings, tied on points with Universidad de Concepcion and Deportes La Serena.

After achieving a commendable 1-0 win over Colo-Colo on April 19 for two consecutive league victories, the Tricolor faced disappointment last weekend, losing 1-0 to Deportes Concepcion at the Estadio Municipal de La Cisterna.

Palestino has secured just two wins in their last ten matches, suffering four defeats in their last five home games across all competitions, a stretch that has increased pressure ahead of this critical encounter.

Having taken the managerial role after a successful period at Universidad de Concepcion, head coach Munoz is eager to leave his mark in his first match on the continental stage and help Palestino surpass their best-ever performance in international tournaments, which occurred in 1997 when they reached the semi-finals of the Copa Libertadores.

Conversely, Gremio commenced their Sudamericana journey with a 1-0 loss to Montevideo City Torque on April 9, but quickly rebounded with a 1-0 win at home against Deportivo Riestra five days later.

While the Brazilian side has won the Copa Libertadores three times, they are still in pursuit of their first Copa Sudamericana title, which remains the only significant continental trophy absent from their collection.

Similar to Palestino, Gremio has struggled domestically, securing four wins but losing five out of their 13 Brasileirao matches, garnering 16 points and occupying the 11th position in the league standings.

However, Luis Castro’s squad arrives at the Estadio Municipal de La Cisterna in good form, having achieved three victories and one draw in their previous five matches — a streak that highlights their status as favorites against a struggling Palestino.

Gremio heads into Wednesday’s fixture following a much-needed 1-0 win over Coritiba at the weekend, ending a run of five league matches without a victory, with 18-year-old Gabriel Mec scoring his first professional goal to secure all three points for the hosts.

With Montevideo City Torque leading Group F with six points, a win in Chile is paramount for second-placed Gremio, who aim to avoid the playoffs and ensure automatic qualification to the round of 16.

Team News

Palestino enters Wednesday’s match with a fully fit squad, allowing Munoz to choose from his best available players, and it is anticipated that the 42-year-old will line up a similar formation to that which faced Colo-Colo a fortnight ago.

Martin Araya and Ronnie Fernandez are expected to lead the attack for the Tricolor, while a defensive quartet of Enzo Roco, Vicente Espinoza, Nicolas Alonso, and Jason Leon will protect goalkeeper Sebastian Perez.

On the other hand, Gremio will be missing several key players, with left-back Marlon out with an ankle fracture, and Willian sidelined until mid-May due to a muscle injury.

Joao Pedro and Mathias Villasanti are also unavailable due to injuries, though the visitors will welcome back defender Gustavo Martins, who is eligible to play after completing a suspension.

Palestino probable starting XI:

Perez; Roco, Espinoza, Alonso, Leon; Gargues, Gallegos, Montes, Munder; Araya, Fernandez

Gremio probable starting XI:

Weverton; Rocha, Martins, Viery, Paulista; Perez, Mec, Monsalve, Tete; Braithwaite, Vinicius

Although Gremio approaches the game as the more in-form team, they are also under pressure, having managed just one victory from their two group matches thus far. With Palestino’s last five matches yielding fewer than three goals, another tight encounter is anticipated; however, we believe Gremio will emerge victorious, with Carlos Vinicius likely making a crucial impact.