Independiente Medellin and Palestino return to action in the Copa Sudamericana when they go head to head in the second leg of their round-of-16 clash on Wednesday.
With last week's reverse leg ending in a pulsating stalemate, a place in the quarter-finals is very much up for grabs and we expect both sides to go all out at the Estadio Hernan Ramirez Villegas.
Match preview
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Independiente Medellin turned in a resilient team performance last Thursday when they salvaged a 2-2 draw against Palestino in the first leg of their Copa Sudamericana last-16 tie at Estadio Hernan Ramirez Villegas.
Ivan Roman and Nicolas Linares found the back of the net for Palestino to cancel out Joaquin Varela's 41st-minute opener and turn the tie on its head but Varela struck his second of the game in the 93rd minute to force a share of the spoils.
Prior to that, Independiente Medellin were condemned to their first defeat of the new Colombian top-flight campaign when they were beaten 2-0 by Deportivo Cali courtesy of goals from Jonathan Marulanda and Fredy Montero on August 5.
Alejandro Restrepo's men had kicked off the 2024 Primera A term with three stalemates in their opening three games before picking up a 1-0 victory over Boyaca Chico on August 1 thanks to Marcus Vinicius's 45th-minute strike.
The El Rojo Paisa now return to action in the Copa Sudamericana, where they kicked off their quest for a first-ever title with a 2-0 defeat against Bolivian outfit Bolivar in the Group A opener on April 5.
However, Medellin put together a run of four wins and one draw while scoring 16 goals and conceding five in their subsequent five matches to finish as group winners, two points above runners-up Always Ready.
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Palestino, on the other hand, continue to struggle for results in the Chilean Primera Division as they fell to a 2-1 defeat against Union La Calera at the Estadio Municipal Nicolas Chahuan Nazar on Sunday.
Despite seeing over 65% of the ball possession and being in control for most of the game, visitors were made to rue their wasteful display in attack as David Romero netted twice against the run of play to hand Union all three points.
Palestino have now failed to win five of their last six league matches — losing four and picking up one draw — with a 4-1 victory over O'Higgins at the Estadio Hernan Ramirez Villegas on August 9 being the exception.
Lucas Bovaglio's men now turn their attention to the Sudamericana, where they picked up a narrow 3-2 victory over Brazilian outfit Cuiaba in the knockout-stage playoff in July before last week's stalemate against Medellin.
While the Tricolor kicked off the season in the Copa Libertadores, a run of just two wins and seven points from their six matches saw them finish third in Group E and drop into the South American second-tier competition.
Palestino head into Wednesday's return leg on a run of three draws in their last three games against Medellin, but thet did triumph over the Colombian outfit on penalties when they met in the Copa Libertadores second qualifying round back in 2019
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Team News
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Brayan Leon Muniz has been on song for Independiente Medellin in the Copa Sudamericana and the 23-year-old, who boasts six goals and three assists in the competition, should lead the attack once again.
Muniz should form the front two with strike partner Luis Sandoval, while we expect an unchanged midfield trio of Diego Moreno, Baldomero Perlaza and former Athletico Paranaense man Jaime Alvarado.
At the defensive end of the pitch, Jimer Fory, Varela, Fainer Torijano, Jose Ortiz and Leyser Chaverra should retain their roles in the XI, shielding 32-year-old Eder Chaux between the sticks.
Palestino, on the other hand, will take to the pitch without the services of 22-year-old midfielder Nicolas Meza, who has been sidelined since last December through a cruciate ligament injury.
Junior Marabel picked up a late red card against Union on Sunday but the Paraguayan forward is eligible to feature at the Tricolour as his suspension only applies to the Chilean Primera Division.
Linares was involved in both goals against Medellin in last week's reverse leg and the 28-year-old midfielder, who now has four goal involvements in the competition, will be one to keep an eye on.
Independiente Medellin possible starting lineup:
Chaux; Fory, Varela, Torijano, Ortiz, Chaverra; Moreno, Perlaza, Alvarado; Sandoval, Muniz
Palestino possible starting lineup:
Contreras; Gargues, Bizama, Suarez, Zuniga, Chamorro, Abrigo, Linares; Palacio, Sosa, Benitez
We say: Independiente Medellin 2-1 Palestino
Following last week's result, Independiente Medellin and Palestino will need no extra motivation on Wednesday as they look to reach the Copa Sudamericana quarter-finals — a stage that they have both never progressed past in the history of the tournament.
While we expect both sides to go all out at the Estadio Hernan Ramirez Villegas, we fancy the Colombian outfit to come away with a narrow victory in front of their home supporters.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joshua Ojele
