Defensor Sporting vs Cerro Porteno
Copa Libertadores
Date: Tuesday, 15 May 2018
Kick-Off at 23:15 UK / 00:15 CET
Venue: Estadio Luis Franzini, Montevideo.
Defensor Sporting disappointingly dropped the ball in the previous round when they fell to Monagas who had previously lost all three games in the group A. The Uruguayan side thus needs three points on Tuesday evening when they host the second-placed Cerro Porteno in the crucial affair for their knockout stage ambitions.
A win here would move Eduardo Acevedo’s side level on points with the Paraguayan outfit ahead of the final day, but any other scenario would likely keep them out of the contest for the second-place finish.
The hosts will look for the reason to be optimistic in the poor record their counterparts have on travels in this competition. Cerro Porteno won only 1 of last 17 away matches in Copa Libertadores and they scored on only two occasions in last six games on the road in the most elite competition in South America.
Defensor Sporting vs Cerro Porteno: Head-to-head
The two sides met each other just once in the past, battling it out in the Copa Sudamericana qualifications 13 years ago.
Cerro Porteno advanced back then 3-1 on aggregate thanks to the 2-0 win in the first leg of the tie in front of the home crowd.
The Paraguayans were better in the first match played in this term of Copa Libertadores (2-1 back in mid-March this year).
Defensor Sporting vs Cerro Porteno: Prediction
Defensor Sporting will have to try and find the way out of the crisis which saw them lose three on the bounce in the domestic league. They scored just once in the process and they’ll be up against the in-form opposition which kept a clean sheet in a win over Division Profesional leaders Olimpia at the weekend.
Luis Zubeldia’s men will be happy with the draw here and we expect them to sit carefully at the back and wait for their chances from counter-attacks. In such circumstances, it’s really hard to imagine a high-scoring scenario here, meaning Under 2.5 goals FT is our top betting suggestion, set at the odds of 1.50.
The draw at the half time also looks to be a decent option as we don’t expect the out-of-form hosts to rush and risk conceding an early opener. You can have this bet at the 1.95 odds.
Defensor Sporting vs Cerro Porteno: Bet Tips
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Under 2.5 goals FT @ 1.50
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Draw at the half time @ 1.95.
