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Aron Wright - May 21, 2018
Cerro Porteno vs Monagas
Copa Libertadores
Date: Wednesday, 23 May 2018
Kick-Off at 23:15 UK / 00:15 CET
Venue: Estadio General Pablo Rojas, Asuncion.
Cerro Porteno should not have a tough task finishing the group stage campaign in a strong fashion as they are to host the rock-bottomed Monagas on the final day. The Paraguayans have the chance to clinch the top spot in the Group 1 with a win here and Gremio’s slip-up against Defensor Sporting. The Brazilian outfit head into last round matches being one point clear at the top of the group standings.
The visitors could avoid the very foot of the group standings with a win here and anything but Defensor’s victory over Gremio on the Brazilian soil. Whilst the second of two conditions is highly probable, the first one is really tough (not to say impossible) to expect given every single parameter goes in Cerro Porteno’s favour.
The hosts come into this as massive favourites and we would literally be shocked with any other outcome but a comprehensive victory for them. They head into the game off the back of four straight wins in all competitions and they sit sky-high seventh after 18 rounds of the competition in Division Profesional.
Their rivals are struggling badly to find the right form and match last season’s successes. Monagas are as low as 15th in the Venezuelan Primera Division standings after 17 rounds and they lost four out of five outings in maiden appearance in the strongest continental competition. They suffered true disasters on two travels shipping as many as seven goals in defeats to Gremio and Defensor Sporting on the road.
The home win is a huge banker at 1.30, but we are pretty confident about hosts winning this by two or more goals without any troubles. You can have Cerro Porteno -1.5 handicap bet at the odds of 1.85, while the hosts are 1.73 to have the lead at the half time and win the match at the end.
