Either Racing Club or Corinthians will make the final of the Copa Sudamericana for the first time as both sides face each other in leg two of their tie on Thursday at Estadio Presidente Peron in Argentina.
When these two met last week in the opening leg, we saw a back-and-forth contest that ended in a 2-2 draw, leaving it all to play for on Thursday.
Match preview
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Last week's spirited match between these two teams left Racing in a good position to make the final for the first time in club history.
Racing have scored first in all but one of their matches in the competition this year, though last Thursday was the first time they failed to win when doing so.
In the 2024 Sudamericana, El Primer Grande boast a 100% home record, winning each match in dominating fashion by a combined margin of 19-2.
Coming into this encounter, Gustavo Costas's men are winless in consecutive competitive fixtures, losing 2-1 at Banfield in Argentine Primera Division action on Sunday.
While this is their first appearance at this stage of the tournament, Racing have not been eliminated from a two-leg semi-final tie since Sport Cristal beat them in the 1997 Copa Libertadores semi-finals (6-4 on aggregate).
La Academia have already beaten two Brazilian sides on home soil at the Sudamericana this season, defeating Red Bull Bragantino in April (3-0), while claiming a decisive home victory over Athletico Paranaense (4-1) in the quarter-finals to reverse that tie in their favour (4-2 on aggregate).
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It has been just over a year since Corinthians were eliminated in the semi-finals of this competition by Fortaleza (3-1 on aggregate), and their chance at redemption occurs on Thursday.
Timao have yet to win a semi-final fixture in this tournament, but a victory this week will earn them a place in the final for the first time.
Ramon Diaz's men have won their last three Sudamericana affairs away from home, exacting some revenge in the quarter-finals this year with a 2-0 victory at Fortaleza, advancing from that tie 5-0 on aggregate.
The Sao Paulo side are on a five-match unbeaten run across all competitions, winning at Cuiaba on Monday in Brasileiro Serie A action 1-0.
So far at the Sudamericana this year, all of their victories occurred when drawing first blood, with this team losing only once when netting the opener (2-1 versus Bragantino).
Time do Povo have not won a Sudamericana knockout fixture on Argentine soil in normal time but have emerged victorious from their last two knockout ties against sides from Argentina, including a shootout victory in the quarter-finals over Estudiantes last year.
Team News
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A sprained ankle will likely force Roger Martinez to sit out of this match for Racing Club, with Agustin Garcia Basso and Maximiliano Salas being the newcomers who were in the starting 11 for the opening leg of this semi-final tie.
Salas put his side in front after only six minutes on Thursday, while Gaston Martirena netted the equaliser, which ultimately evened this tie at 2-2.
As for Corinthians, they were without Ruan Oliveira last week due to an ACL issue, Diego Palacios has a sore knee, Ryan is dealing with an ankle injury and Hector will not be back this season because of a sprained knee.
Yuri Alberto notched a brace for the Brazilians in the opening leg, giving him eight for the competition, one fewer than Adrian Martinez of Racing for first.
Racing Club possible starting lineup:
Arias; Martirena, Di Cesare, Sosa, Garcia Basso, Rojas; Quintero, Zuculini, Rodriguez, Salas; A. Martinez
Corinthians possible starting lineup:
Souza; Fagner, Ramalho, Caca, Bidu; Carrillo, Bidon, Coronado; Garro; Alberto, Depay
We say: Racing Club 1-1 Corinthians (Corinthians advances on penalties)
We anticipate that this may not be such a wide-open or free-flowing match with so much at stake, but we believe Corinthians' experience in the semi-finals last year will serve them well and enable them to right the wrongs from 2023.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joel Lefevre
