River Plate vs Santa Fe
South America – Copa Libertadores
Date: Thursday, 5 April 2018
Kick-Off at 23:15 UK
Venue: Estadio Monumental Anonio Vespucio Liberti (Buenos Aires).
River Plate look to have found the right shape after a slower start to the season in the top flight of the Argentine football. Los Millonarios have snatched four wins on the bounce to climb up to the 14th place in the Superliga standings. They’ve been enjoying a stellar form in the final third netting as many as eight goals in last three games and they’ll come into mid-week’s Copa Libertadores clash with Santa Fe in sky-high spirits.
Teams have won a point apiece in the first round. River have earned a highly-important 2-2 draw away at Flamengo thanks to a last-gasp equalizer from the substitute Camilo Mayada. Santa Fe kind of dropped the ball by playing only a 1-1 draw with Ecuadorian Emelec a month ago at their Estadio Nemesio Camacho El Campin in Bogota.
Los Cardenales have generally been struggling defensively throughout the entire season in Colombian Primera A. They sit tenth at the moment with no more than 15 points in 12 league outings. Furthermore, Gregorio Perez’s side has been rather poor on travels lately losing four of last five in Primera A.
This will be the music to the ears of River’s red-hot attacking line led by Ignacio Scocco and Lucas Pratto. Scocco has scored three goals in last three games for Marcelo Gallardo’s side and he was rested in Sunday’s league affair against Defensa y Justicia. Pratto bagged the third goal in that match.
River Plate vs Santa Fe: Head-to-head
The two teams took on each other in Recopa Sudamericana two years ago.
Los Millonarios took a 2-1 victory on aggregate thanks to the win in front of the home fans. The rematch in Bogota saw a goalless draw.
They’ve also met this January in a friendly as Santa Fe took a 2-1 win.
River Plate vs Santa Fe: Prediction
Santa Fe have been way too easy to break down lately and we’d not be surprised to see the hosts netting three or more goals on Thursday evening.
You can back the home win as a banker at 1.44, but we’ll chase higher odds going for the handicap and HT/FT bets.
River Plate vs Santa Fe: Bet Tips
River Plate -1.5 handicap @ 2.35
HT/FT River Plate/River Plate @ 2.25
