For the second time this week, Sportivo Ameliano will host Club Libertad at Estadio Defensores del Chaco, this time with a place in the Copa Sudamericana quarter-finals at stake.
We are all even heading into this decisive round of 16 encounter, with these teams playing to a 1-1 draw last Thursday at Estadio Tigo La Huerta.
Match preview
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Playing in their first-ever knockout fixture in the Sudamericana, Sportivo held their own, going in front after 23 minutes and hanging on to claim a result.
While it was the first time they failed to win at the Sudamericana this year when scoring first, this side are now unbeaten in six consecutive matches in this competition.
Aldo Bobadilla's men won their final two group contests in this tournament at home, with each victory being by a single goal.
Sportivo will enter this contest on a lengthy winless spell spanning nine matches across all competitions, with their last victory coming on matchday six of the Sudamericana versus Athletico Paranaense (1-0).
At the same time, they have only suffered one defeat in their previous five competitive fixtures, losing 3-0 at Trinidense in the Paraguayan top flight earlier this month.
Their only victory versus a side from Paraguay in this tournament occurred in the opening round this year, when they defeated Olimpia Asuncion at home 2-0.
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Another strong reaction rescued Libertad in the opening match of this tie, as this team have now earned a result in consecutive Sudamericana contests despite conceding first.
That said, playing away from home has been a challenge for them this season, losing two of three Libertadores group fixtures in 2024 and claiming a 1-1 draw versus Universidad Catolica in the Sudamericana round of 32, thanks to a goal in second-half stoppage time.
Ariel Galeano's men are currently on a seven-match winless run across all competitions, claiming a 0-0 draw domestically with Sportivo Ameliano on Monday.
With a victory on Thursday, Repollero will book a place in the last eight of this tournament for the first time since 2021, when they made it to the semi-finals.
Libertad have not been eliminated from a knockout fixture in this competition when tied after leg one since Chapecoense took them out on penalties at this stage in 2015.
Gumarelo are unbeaten in their previous nine competitive fixtures versus Sportivo, with their last away victory against them occurring in May (1-0).
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Team News
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From matchday six to the opening leg of this tie, we saw one change to the Sportivo starting 11 as Brian Benitez replaced Juan Patino in the opening lineup, while Franco Ortellado was on the bench, having previously sustained a cruciate ligament tear.
A 23rd-minute strike courtesy of Alejandro Samudio last Thursday was all the visitors could manage on the scoresheet versus Libertad.
In the opening leg, Libertad were without Hector Villalba, who is recovering from a cruciate ligament tear, while Diego Viera, Nestor Gimenez, Hernesto Caballero, Lucas Sanabria and Lorenzo Melgarejo were the only ones that started their second leg round of 32 clash who were in the opening lineup on Thursday.
Two minutes before the hour mark Libertad were rewarded with an equaliser through Matias Espinoza, his first of the tournament this year.
Sportivo Ameliano possible starting lineup:
Rossi; Gonzalez, Baez, Gutierrez, Paredes; Benitez; Samudio, Maiz, Zaracho, Valdez; Torales
Club Libertad possible starting lineup:
Silva; Piris, Viera, Lezcano, Espinoza; Campuzano, Caballero, Merlini; Fernandez, O. Cardozo, Melgarejo
We say: Sportivo Ameliano 0-0 Club Libertad (Sportivo Ameliano advance on penalties)
Libertad may be the more experienced side, but Sportivo showed they are worthy opponents last week, and we believe the home crowd's energy will help them maintain their nerve throughout this encounter.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joel Lefevre
