Palmeiras will face Ecuador’s LDU on Thursday, October 23, at 9:30 PM (Brasília time) at Casa Blanca Stadium in Quito. This match marks the first leg of the Copa Libertadores semifinals, and LDU, known for its strong tradition in international competitions, is eager to secure a spot in the tournament final.
LDU has shown resilience and skill throughout the Libertadores, notably defeating Brazilian teams in the knockout stages. In the round of 16, they overcame Botafogo, and in the quarterfinals, they eliminated São Paulo, winning both legs of the tie. Their domestic performance has also been impressive; they are currently unbeaten in their last five games, with four victories and one draw.
In local tournaments, LDU has reached the quarterfinals of the Copa Ecuador and is currently positioned second in LigaPro, trailing Independiente del Valle who leads with 70 points compared to LDU’s 55.
However, LDU faces some setbacks as they prepare for the match. Their starting goalkeeper Gonzalo Valle has sustained a serious knee injury and will miss the game. Valle was instrumental in their quarterfinal victory over São Paulo. In his absence, 38-year-old Alexander Domínguez will step in as the goalkeeper, despite having not played any matches in this year’s Libertadores yet.
Additionally, Argentine forward Lisandro Alzugaray will also be sidelined due to injury. Despite these setbacks, LDU maintains key players such as Michael Estrada, who is a standout performer for the team and shares the goal-scoring lead with Alzugaray, each having netted 11 goals.
The expected lineup for LDU includes Alexander Dominguez; Richard Mina, Ricardo Adé, Gian Franco Allala; José Quintero, Carlos Gruezo, Gabriel Villamil, Leonel Quiñónez; Bryan Ramirez, and Jeison Medina, under the management of Tiago Nunes.
With a remarkable history and a resilient squad, LDU will be looking to leverage home advantage and make a significant impact in this semifinal clash against Palmeiras.