Richard Ríos stepped up when it counted. The Colombian midfielder scored the lone goal in Palmeiras’ 1–0 win over Cerro Porteño on Wednesday night.

It was a tense Copa Libertadores clash at Allianz Parque. But in the 41st minute, Ríos found the net. With that strike, Palmeiras grabbed three points and climbed to the top of Group G.

However, the celebration caused a stir.

A Goal, A Message, A Stir

After smashing the ball into the back of the net at Allianz Parque, Ríos ran to the corner and motioned for the home fans to quiet down—an unexpected reaction that raised a few eyebrows in the stands. While some saw it as confidence, others saw it as disrespect. Either way, it added extra heat to an already tense match.

Palmeiras had struggled to get going in the first half. Cerro Porteño, under coach Diego Martínez, showed up with a textbook defensive strategy: tight lines, intense pressing, and zero breathing room. Adding to the early woes, midfield maestro Raphael Veiga dislocated his shoulder and had to be subbed off for Felipe Anderson. The former Lazio star is still working his way back to full form, and it showed.

Ríos Breaks the Deadlock

The breakthrough came after a moment of real quality. Facundo Torres sent in a looping cross to the back post, Felipe Anderson smartly knocked it down, and Ríos did the rest—firing past the Cerro keeper and igniting the game. From that moment on, Palmeiras finally looked like themselves.

⚽️💚 @Palmeiras 100%! Outro de Ríos e liderança do Grupo G da CONMEBOL #Libertadores. pic.twitter.com/U7rSbmwrxY

— CONMEBOL Libertadores (@LibertadoresBR) April 10, 2025

Young Estêvão, Chelsea-bound and full of promise, started lighting up the flank in the second half. Vitor Roque, still chasing his first goal in seven matches, thought he’d broken the drought—only for VAR to chalk it off for a hairline offside.

Palmeiras in Control of Group G

Though they couldn’t extend the lead, Palmeiras remained in control. Substitutes like ‘Flaco’ López brought fresh energy, and the defense, anchored by Gustavo Gómez, remained solid. With two wins from two matches, Verdão now sits alone at the top of Group G with six points, ahead of Bolívar and Cerro Porteño (three points each).

This win also extends Palmeiras’ dominance over the Paraguayan side. Under Abel Ferreira, they’ve now beaten Cerro Porteño five times in a row in Libertadores play, scoring 14 and conceding just one. Historically, Cerro is their most frequent and most defeated opponent in the tournament—with 15 matchups, nine wins, and 31 goals scored.

Libertadores Royalty

Palmeiras continues to assert its legacy in South American football. This marks their 25th Libertadores campaign—and their 10th in a row. They hold records for most appearances by a Brazilian club and most wins, goals, finals, semifinals, and quarterfinals. Since May 2021, they’ve gone unbeaten in 21 home games in the competition (13 wins, 8 draws).

Over the past seven editions, Palmeiras topped the group stage five times—a record this century—and even pulled off a perfect group run in 2022, with six wins and a jaw-dropping +22 goal difference.

Looking Ahead

With two wins and a growing list of records, Palmeiras looks strong. They’re confident. They’re organized. And they have momentum.

If Ríos keeps delivering, noise or no noise, Palmeiras could be in for another deep Libertadores run.