Penarol vs. The Strongest (Wednesday, 11.00pm)
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Penarol and The Strongest battle in the Copa Libertadores round-of-16 first-leg match at Estadio Campein del Siglo on Wednesday.
The Uruguayan hosts are unblemished on their turf in this season's competition, and they seek to continue that run against a club that struggled on the road in the group phase.
We say: Penarol 2-0 The Strongest
Having scored at least two goals at home in the group stage, Penarol will hope to continue that run against one of the worst travellers among the qualified teams, keen to go into next week's reverse fixture in La Paz with a positive result.
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Talleres vs. River Plate (Thursday, 1.30am)
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Two Argentine sides Talleres and River Plate face off in the Copa Libertadores round-of-16 first leg at Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes on Wednesday night.
Talleres were unblemished on their turf in the group phase, but they meet one of the best away sides in the first knockout round and one they are familiar with.
We say: Talleres 1-0 River Plate
With River shorn of their two Libertadores leading scorers, we are backing Talleres to eke out a marginal victory in Wednesday's all-Argentine last-16 first-leg match in Cordoba, thus notching their fifth victory in the last seven meetings between both sides.
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Botafogo vs. Palmeiras (Thursday, 1.30am)
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Brazilian heavyweights Botafogo and Palmeiras are set to lock horns in the first leg of their Copa Libertadores round-of-16 tie at Estadio Nilton Santos on Thursday morning.
The winner at the end of this two-legged tie will continue their continental cup journey in the quarter-final later this month, where they will take on either Nacional or Sao Paulo.
We say: Botafogo 1-0 Palmeiras
While Palmerias have been the more successful side in this fixture in recent years, their away form of late has been very poor and they were beaten by this opponent at this venue less than a month ago.
Indeed, Botafogo have not been at their best lately either, but their home record is still among the best in their division and we feel they will edge Verdao to a first-leg lead in this tie.
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Oliver Thomas
