The final matchday in the group stage of the Copa Libertadores will see Penarol taking on Rosario Central at Estadio Campeon del Siglo on Tuesday night.
Both sides enter this match off the back of league wins over the weekend, with the hosts beating Progreso 3-1 while the visitors overcame Deportivo Riestra 2-0 on the road.
Match preview
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Penarol head into the final group stage match of the competition with their fate in their own hands and require just a single point from this match to join Atletico Mineiro in the round of 16.
Carboneros beat the Brazilian outfit 2-0 in their last match in this competition, with Lucas Hernandez and Maximiliano Silvera scoring in the 70th and 76th minute respectively. That result saw them pull within three points of the group leaders and also allowed them to maintain a two-point advantage over their opponents in this one.
Aside from the continental competition, Diego Aguirre's side are enjoying a very impressive season, currently leading the Uruguayan Primera Division with 38 points, boasting an unbeaten record of 12 wins and two draws after 14 Apertura matches.
The hosts have won both their home games in the Copa Libertadores and have only lost once in 12 matches across all competitions at Estadio Campeon del Siglo in 2024, which was against City Torque in the Copa Uruguay last month.
Penarol will also be out for revenge here after they were beaten 1-0 in a heated showdown at the Estadio Gigante de Arroyito by this opponent in the opening match of the group at the start of April.
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While Rosario Central emerged victorious in the reverse fixture, their performance was overshadowed by events off the field, with Maximiliano Olivera requiring stitches to his face after suffering an attack by the home fans.
As a result, Canalla will be expecting a hostile reception this week in Montevideo, where they have to come away with all three points in order to avoid dropping to the Copa Sudamericana from next month.
Miguel Angel Russo's side kept their qualification hopes alive last week when they overcame basement club Caracas with a commanding 4-1 victory, with Maximiliano Lovera and Francesco Lo Celso scoring either side of Agustin Modica's brace.
Unlike their opponents here, though, the visitors have struggled to find top gear domestically, ending the first phase of the season down in 11th place in Group A, while they have only managed four points in three second-round games so far.
In addition, Rosario's form on the road of late has been very poor, as they managed only one point from their previous two Copa Libertadores away games and have won just one of their last eight in all competitions on their travels.
Team News
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Penarol's first-choice goalkeeper Guillermo de Amores sustained a torn tendon in training earlier this month and has been ruled out until December, which should see Washington Aguerre continue in goal for this match.
Silvera has scored five goals in as many matches in this competition, including a hat-trick against Caracas on matchday two, and he will almost certainly continue to lead the line in this one.
For the visitors, Agustin Bravo and Francis Mac Allister are facing extended periods on the sideline, with both players suffering cruciate ligament injuries earlier in the campaign.
Abel Hernandez is expected to be out of action until July due to a thigh injury, while Agustin Sandez has missed the last two games with a muscle strain and has been flagged as a doubt for the trip to Montevideo.
Penarol possible starting lineup:
Aguerre; Milans, Coelho, Ridriguez, Olivera; Grana, Ramirez, Sequeira, Fernandez, Lafuente; Silvera
Rosario Central possible starting lineup:
Broun; D. Martinez, Mallo, Quintana, Cordero; M. Martinez, Gomez; Lovera, Malcorra, Campaz; Modica
We say: Penarol 2-1 Rosario Central
While Rosario Central won the reverse fixture 1-0 earlier in the competition, they now have to make the trip to Estadio Campeon del Siglo, where Penarol are riding a four-match winning streak in all competitions and have only suffered one defeat in 2024.
After the off-field issues that took place in Rosario back in April, another heated contest is to be expected when these two collide on Tuesday, but we feel the hosts will come away from the match victorious and will progress to the next round.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Devesh Jaganath
