Palmeiras vs Vasco – News and Probable Lineups

Palmeiras will take on Vasco da Gama at Nubank Parque on Sunday, with the upcoming fixture featuring a clash between the top and bottom teams in round 24 of the 2026 Brasileiro.

Currently, Palmeiras leads the league with 48 points, while Vasco finds itself in 19th place with just 22 points. Both teams experienced success in continental competitions during the week: Palmeiras advanced to the quarter-finals of the Copa Libertadores after a victory against Cerro Porteno, while Vasco secured a convincing 4-1 victory over Olimpia in Paraguay to move forward in the Sudamericana.

Match overview

Palmeiras secured their place in the Libertadores quarter-finals with a 1-0 win over Cerro Porteno in Asuncion, having played to a 1-1 draw in the first leg at home in Sao Paulo.

As they prepare to face LDU de Quito in the next round, Abel Ferreira’s squad will now shift their focus back to league play. Palmeiras currently sits atop the standings with 48 points (14 wins, 6 draws, 3 losses), three points ahead of Flamengo.

Though their last league loss was a tight 3-2 defeat away to Fluminense, they managed to retain their top position, albeit with the reminder that margins are narrow. Recently, Palmeiras has only managed one win in their last three league matches, and any further missteps could present an opening for Flamengo to narrow the gap. However, at Nubank Parque, they remain formidable: having achieved seven wins, three draws, and just one loss in 11 home fixtures (earning 24 points from a possible 33).

A sturdy defense has supported Palmeiras’ campaign: they have only conceded 19 goals in 23 matches (averaging 0.83 goals per game), the best defensive record in Serie A. At home, they’ve allowed only seven goals in 11 matches, which poses a significant challenge for Vasco, who averages 1.05 goals per game, to penetrate this defense.

Historically, Palmeiras has the upper hand in this matchup: they have recorded 11 wins, four draws, and just two losses in their last 17 league encounters. Vasco ended a ten-year winless streak against Palmeiras with a 2-1 victory at Sao Januario back in March, which was their first victory over Palmeiras since 2015.

Vasco arrives in positive spirits following their 4-1 away win against Olimpia, which secured them a spot in the Sudamericana quarter-finals, marking the club’s 128th anniversary celebrations. Nevertheless, the joy of continental success does little to mask their challenges in domestic play.

Pedro Emanuel’s team sits in 19th place, having accumulated 22 points from 22 matches (5 wins, 7 draws, 10 losses). A recent 3-0 defeat at home to Santos highlighted their vulnerabilities: they have secured only one victory in their last five home fixtures and have a negative goal difference of 11 (with 23 goals scored and 34 goals conceded), which ranks them third worst in Serie A.

Perhaps most concerning is Vasco’s dismal away form; they have yet to win in ten away league matches (0 wins, 5 draws, 5 losses), managing to collect just 5 points, which is the worst away record in the league.

Faced with a Palmeiras team boasting the best defense and home record, Vasco finds itself in a challenging scenario.

Team News

Khellven’s availability is in question due to a thigh injury, and Ramon Sosa, Palmeiras’ third-highest scorer with four goals, is also ruled out. Both Jefte and Paulinho continue to be sidelined.

Despite Manchester City’s interest in Allan as a possible replacement for Savinho, he remains with Abel Ferreira’s squad. Palmeiras deems Allan indispensable and has no intention of selling him during this transfer window.

Allan, aged 22, has contributed six goals and five assists in 41 appearances this season. Holding a contract until 2029 with a €100 million release clause, he is an unquestioned starter and leads Serie A in successful dribbles (33 in 20 matches).

Vasco’s injury situation is equally concerning: Johan Rojas is out with a thigh injury, and Brenner is also sidelined due to a toe issue, likely sidelining him until at least September.

Midfielders Jair and Mateus Carvalho are also unavailable.

Palmeiras probable starting XI:

Miguel; Barboza, Gomez, Murilo; Piquerez, Freitas, Andreas, Allan; Mauricio, Arias; Lopez

Vasco da Gama probable starting XI:

Garden; Henrique, Cuesta, Renan, Cuiabano; Mendes, Sosa; Gomez, Tche Tche, Colidio; Spinelli

Palmeiras is considered the clear favorite due to their position at the top of the table, while Vasco is fighting to avoid relegation. In their previous 44 encounters, Palmeiras boasts a 66% win rate; Vasco has achieved 15 victories in 32 matches (47%).

It is anticipated that Palmeiras will manage the match tempo, open the scoring, and control the play. A goal in the second half could prove decisive, potentially leading to yet another home triumph.