Needing a win to keep their slim knockout stage hopes alive, Caracas will pay a visit to Estadio Gigante de Arroyito on Thursday for a date with Rosario Central on matchday five in the Copa Libertadores group stage.
A 1-0 home defeat versus Atletico Mineiro dropped the Argentines down to third in Group G with four points, while La Rojos del Avila lost by that same score to Penarol and are dead last with just a single point.
Match preview
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Another slow start came back to burn Rosario on matchday four of this tournament as they conceded the opening goal for a third successive time in the group stage.
That defeat put them outside of the top two and a place in the knockout portion of the Copa Libertadores, and in a difficult position as a defeat or draw versus Caracas combined with a Penarol victory would put them out of contention for a berth in the last 16.
Since defeating Penarol 1-0 on matchday one of this competition, it has been rough going for Miguel Angel Russo and his side, who are winless in their last six matches in all competitions.
Canalla have scored just one first-half goal in the group stage of this tournament, in their opening match when they defeated Penarol, though they have just one point in their last three Argentine Primera Division fixtures in which they netted in the first 45 minutes of play.
A victory on Thursday would not only increase their odds of making the knockout portion of this tournament for the first time since 2016, but it would also surpass their points total from 2019 (five), which was their previous appearance in the group stage.
Rosario have never lost to a Venezuelan opponent in the Copa Libertadores, winning three of five contests all-time, including their only two home games versus sides in the Venezuelan top flight.
It is now or never for Caracas, who need maximum points from their final two group fixtures to have any hope of advancing into the knockout stage of this tournament for the first time since 2009 (quarter-finalists).
The record 12-time champions of Venezuela have scored just two goals in this competition so far, the joint second-fewest in the group stage, with only Brazilian side Gremio netting fewer (one).
The Venezuelans have had a rough campaign domestically and in the Libertadores, currently 12th in the Apertura and without a competitive victory since February (1-0 over Rayo Zulianoi).
Under Henry Melendez, they have struggled to maintain a solid defensive shape, leaving far too many gaps in behind, allowing 11 goals in four Libertadores contests this season, more than any side remaining in this tournament.
Caracas have not won an away contest in the group stage of the Copa Libertadores since hanging onto a 3-2 victory over Colombian side Independiente Medellin in March 2020.
Los Rojos del Avila have only earned one victory on Argentine soil in this competition, stunning River Plate with a 1-0 triumph at Estadio Mas Monumental during the 2007 group phase.
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Team News
Both Francis Mac Allister and Agustin Bravo sat out of the previous Libertadores encounter for Rosario with ACL issues, while Abel Hernandez was not available due to a thigh injury.
We saw two newcomers in their starting 11 on matchday four of this tournament, with Jonatan Gomez and Agustin Modica coming in to replace Lautaro Giaccone and Tobias Cervera.
Caracas made three changes to their opening lineup from matchday three to four, adding Frankarlos Benitez, Luis Casiani and Manuel Sulbaran to replace Wuilker Farinez, Piero Mollica and Ender Echenique.
Edwuin Pernia and Danny Perez are the only players to find the back of the net for them in this competition, both of which came on home soil.
Rosario Central possible starting lineup:
Broun; Martinez, Mallo, Quintana, Sandez; O'Connor, Ortiz, Giaccone; Malcorra, Coronel, Campaz
Caracas possible starting lineup:
Farinez; Rodriguez, La Mantia, Tamayo; Casiani, Edet, Ortega, Quijada; Moreno, Perez; Pernia
We say: Rosario Central 2-0 Caracas
This is the second time in the last three seasons that Caracas have featured in the group stage of this tournament, yet they still look indecisive and intimidated by some of the bigger clubs from Brazil and Argentina.
While Rosario have not been all that clinical so far in this competition, they can expect to have plenty of chances against a side that have shown to be relatively passive so far.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joel Lefevre
