LC - Football - South America - Libertadores Cup

Santos
In the first position of the group with two wins a defeat, against Real Garcilaso at away. Then the team went home and beat Nacional, and afterwards went away and beat Estudiantes in Argentina. Now returning home for the reverse fixture against Estudiantes, the team is in prime position to get a good advantage in the group and get near qualification for next stage.

The team is strong at home in Libertadores Cup, in 2017 on the group stage the team won the three matches they played, it was on quarter-finals where they concede a home defeat against Barcelona from Ecuador that saw them eliminated from the competition.

The team have not participated in Libertadores since 2013, in 2011 and 2012, the team played 13 Libertadores Cup matches at home, winning 10 of those, with 2 draws and only 1 defeat, which was against Corinthians, also from Brazil.

After being eliminated via penalties in Paulista Tournament, the team has played two rounds of Seria A, wining at home to Ceara and losing to Bahia, where the team rest key players, to be on the 9th position of this nascent edition.

Estudiantes La Plata
With difference of last edition of Libertadores Cup where they did not draw any match, in this edition the team has already draw one match, at away against Nacional in a scoreless match. The team has gotten themselves in a tight situation as from two home matches, the team just won against Garcilaso and carry with a hard home defeat against Santos, with controversy about the scored goal and a better performance of Estudiantes, despite losing the match.

Last season the team won three matches and lost the same, and with 9 points the team was unable to proceed as with 10 points Botafogo and Barcelona went to next stage. Estudiantes encounter a Brazilian team in that edition, losing 2-1 against Botafogo in the first match of the group stage, still they won the reverse fixture by 1-0, and despite closing with two consecutive victories the team was unable to proceed.

At away in Libertadores Cup, in last 9 matches, the team has lost five, draw two and won twice, both against Barcelona from Ecuador. Still the team has an streak going from last edition of Libertadores Cup and now has two matches at away unbeaten, still that might come to and end in this match.

In Superliga tournament, the team is on the 14th position, having won only once in the last five matches, losing the last one at home to Belgrano, match where the team rest key players focusing on this match, as it is key for the team to take at least a point.

Match
Both teams have prioritize this match, as both rotate players and lost their weekend encounters, which is expected to be tight and close, Estudiantes need of avoiding defeat will be the key for the match, Santos should dominate the actions and be more comfortable as the time proceeds forward.

Prediction
It will be a hard match but Santos should get a good result here, it might be to close for my liking, but their good previous performance home and the current form, together that Estudiantes rarely produce at away in Libertadores. Also home matches are the key to proceed to next stage. Therefore with a medium stake with Santos for the win.

24/04/2018 17:46, read 1910 times