Preview:Palmeiras vs Gremio - prediction, team news, lineups

Aiming to continue their resurgent Brasileiro run, Palmeiras welcome Gremio to Allianz Parque this weekend in the 17th round of Brazil's top flight.

Since returning from the FIFA Club World Cup, Abel Ferreira’s men have picked up seven points from a possible nine, and they now face a side yet to record a victory in their last four matches across all competitions.

Match preview

Palmeiras have firmly established themselves as a dominant force in recent seasons, having won the league title in two of the past three campaigns.

After finishing as runners-up in the previous 2024, the Big Green find themselves just one spot lower in the current standings, with 29 points from 14 matches (W9, D2, L3), sitting five points behind leaders Cruzeiro, who have played two games more.

Verdao’s league campaign had paused for the 32-team tournament in the United States, where they exited at the quarter-final stage after a narrow 2-1 loss to eventual winners Chelsea, but Palmeiras have looked reinvigorated since resuming domestic duty.

Having suffered back-to-back defeats prior to the Club World Cup, Palmeiras have returned to take a point in a 1-1 draw against Mirassol before sealing successive victories over Atletico Mineiro (3-2) and Fluminense (2-1), the latter coming in their most recent outing.

Although Verdao will be hoping to secure a third straight victory, they have not exactly turned their home ground into a fortress, with only three wins from their seven league matches at Allianz Parque this season (D2, L2), but coming up against a side they have consistently outclassed in this fixture could tilt the odds in their favour.

Indeed, Gremio have lost on each of their last four visits to this ground, three of which came in the top flight, including a narrow 1-0 defeat in the most recent meeting between the sides.

The visitors’ form on the road offers little cause for optimism either, with four defeats from seven league games played outside their home turf in 2025, though they did manage to come away with a point on their visit to Vasco da Gama in their latest top-flight outing.

Mano Menezes’s side approach this clash off the back of a 1-1 draw with Alianza Lima, a result that confirmed their exit from the Copa Sudamericana following a 3-1 aggregate defeat.

Gremio qualified for the continental competition after finishing 14th in the league last season, and they have managed only a slight improvement this time around, currently placed one spot higher with 17 points from 14 games (W4, D5, L7).

Palmeiras Brasileiro form:

Palmeiras form (all competitions):

Gremio Brasileiro form:

Gremio form (all competitions):

Team News

The absence of Estevao Willian has not had the adverse impact many feared, with Ferreira finding the right balance in attack through Facundo Torres, Felipe Anderson and Vitor Roque.

Roque, in particular, will feel relieved after ending a two-month goal drought last time out, netting a 62nd-minute winner to seal a vital three points.

However, Ferreira will be without winger Allan this weekend, after the substitute picked up a red card late in that same encounter.

Bruno Rodrigues, Figueiredo, Murilo Cerqueira and Paulinho also remain sidelined through injury, ruling them out of contention once again.

Gremio will be without defenders Joao Pedro and Rodrigo Ely, both of whom are dealing with serious injuries — the former with a broken leg and the latter recovering from a cruciate ligament issue.

Menezes will also have to make do without midfield duo Gustavo Cuellar (muscle) and Miguel Monsalve (dislocated shoulder).

Palmeiras possible starting lineup:

Weverton; Mayke, Fuchs, Gomez, Piquerez; Moreno, Evangelista; Anderson, Mauricio, Torres, Vitor Roque

Gremio possible starting lineup:

Volpi; Martins, Kannemann, Leonardo, Marlon; Villasanti, Dodi; Edenilson, Aravena, Pavon; Henrique

We say: Palmeiras 2-0 Gremio

Palmeiras are firm favourites heading into this clash given their current momentum and the psychological edge of recent home dominance in this fixture, and they should have enough quality to edge past a Gremio side still trying to find its feet.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.