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No club has won the Brasileirão more than Palmeiras, which makes it odd that five Brazilian clubs — São Paulo, Grêmio, Santos, Cruzeiro and Internacional — have all achieved more success in South America’s premier club competition, the Copa Libertadores. Palmeiras has only won the title once, and that happened all the way back in 1999.
Last night, Palmeiras took a step towards rectifying that with a 1-0 first leg away victory over Grêmio in the quarterfinals of this year’s competition. That all-important away goal was scored by Gustavo Scarpa in the 30th minute, and it was a stunning strike from the 25-year-old Brazilian international.
Have a hit Gustavo Scarpa! #Libertadores pic.twitter.com/nbVCCazMAL
— CONMEBOL Libertadores (@TheLibertadores) August 21, 2019
Gustavo Scarpa's rocket with the reaction from the @Palmeiras supporters in the away end! pic.twitter.com/kroeXV6v2x
— CONMEBOL Libertadores (@TheLibertadores) August 21, 2019
The return leg is scheduled for next Tuesday at the Pacaembu in São Paulo.
Two other Brazilian teams remain in contention for the title. Later today, Flamengo hosts Internacional at the Maracanã in Rio de Janeiro for the first leg of their quarterfinal matchup. Elsewhere, LDU Quito hosts Boca Juniors in Ecuador.
The final first leg match of the quarters is tomorrow, between River Plate and Paraguay’s Cerro Porteño at El Monumental. Yes, there’s a chance that Boca Juniors and River Plate could meet again in the Libertadores following last year’s madness, but it would be in the semifinal round this time.
The other semifinal, of course, is guaranteed to be an all-Brazilian affair.
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