Under a light São Paulo drizzle, Palmeiras found their way back to the Copa Libertadores final by surviving Fluminense on penalties at Nubank Parque. The hosts had arrived with a 2-1 first-leg advantage from the Maracanã, yet Hércules’ 82nd-minute strike gave the visitors a 1-0 win on the night and forced a shoot-out. Carlos Miguel then denied Nonato before Marlon Freitas converted the fifth Palmeiras kick for a 5-3 success.
The Brazilian champions of 2023, Fluminense, had pushed Palmeiras hard across both legs and came within one kick of overturning the tie. Instead, the Paulista club will return to the continental showpiece for a second successive year, travelling to Montevideo on 28 November to face either Flamengo or Estudiantes de La Plata in pursuit of a fourth Libertadores crown.
It will be Abel Ferreira’s fourth final since the Portuguese coach took charge in November 2020. He led Palmeiras to titles in 2020 and 2021, before losing the 2025 final to Flamengo, a meeting that could now be repeated in Uruguay. After a trophyless 2025, Palmeiras remain in contention for an historic treble, with the Brazilian league and Copa do Brasil still open to them.
A subdued night turns in the rain
There was little early urgency from Palmeiras despite their aggregate lead. Ferreira’s side managed only one shot on target over the 90 minutes, and a restrained first half reflected the caution on both benches. Fluminense, needing a goal after their home defeat, tested Carlos Miguel through Guilherme Arana in the opening minute and later saw the goalkeeper stop Jefferson Savarino.
Marco Aurélio de Oliveira, known as Marcão, switched Canobbio and Savarino between flanks after the first hydration break, without immediately improving the visitors’ threat. His evening was further complicated when Colombian defender Julián Millán was forced off injured after 31 minutes, replaced by Ignácio.
Kevin Serna, another Colombian, came on for Savarino at half-time as Fluminense sought greater attacking energy. Palmeiras’ Jhon Arias was one of the few home players to sustain a high workload, while the game otherwise drifted through a grey, increasingly wet evening.
With half an hour remaining, Fluminense raised the tempo. Ferreira responded by taking off José Manuel “Flaco” López, Palmeiras’ leading scorer this season, for Paraguay’s Ramón Sosa. At the final hydration interval, Marcão’s message to his players was captured by pitchside microphones: “This is no longer about tactics; it is about heart. They do not want to play, they are afraid.”
His side soon produced the moment it needed. Natã, newly introduced from the bench, combined with Hulk before carrying the ball forward and feeding Hércules. From the edge of the area, the midfielder drove a low effort inside the post to level the semi-final aggregate score and send Fluminense into the shoot-out with renewed belief.
That belief did not last through the penalties. Maurício, Gustavo Gómez, Sosa and Joaquín Piquerez scored Palmeiras’ opening four attempts, matched by Thiago Silva, Hércules and Arana for Fluminense. Carlos Miguel’s save from Nonato opened the door, and Marlon Freitas made no mistake against veteran goalkeeper Fábio to settle the contest.
Esteban Ostojich of Uruguay booked Palmeiras defender Alexander Barboza and Arias, along with Fluminense scorer Hércules, in front of 40,425 spectators. Palmeiras lined up with Carlos Miguel; Piquerez, Murilo, Gómez, Barboza and Agustín Giay; Marlon Freitas, Andreas Pereira and Lucas Evangelista; Arias and López. Fluminense began with Fábio; Guga, Thiago Silva, Millán and Arana; Nonato, Hércules and Paulo Henrique Ganso; Canobbio, Savarino and Hulk.
Khellven, Maurício, Paulinho and Sosa entered for Palmeiras, while Samuel Xavier, Natã, Serna, Lucho Acosta and Ignácio were used by Fluminense. For the Cariocas, it was a cruel conclusion to a composed two-leg effort. For Palmeiras, whose performance rarely matched the occasion, the reward is another passage across South America and another final waiting in Montevideo.
