The second leg tie of the Copa Libertadores gets underway this week as Brazilian side Internacional host Paraguayan outfit Olimpia. The match schedules for Friday at the Estadio Beira-Rio, with kickoff at 3:30 am.
This encounter marks their fourth encounter in this year’s competition, with Internacional taking two wins while two matches ending in a goalless draw.
Internacional eased past Olimpia in the group stages while netting seven goals in their two encounters. However, last week saw the side pick up a goalless draw. It was a far more intense match while managing only three shots on target.
Furthermore, their last goalless draw extended their run without scoring to three games across all competitions. However, the side managed to get back on track with a narrow 1-0 win over 10-men Juventude in the Brasileiro earlier this week.
In addition, there is no denying the fact that the camp’s home campaign form has been far from impressive. Currently, the side sits 13th in the rankings and five points away from relegation.
On the other hand, Olimpia seemed to overcome their disappointing 6-1 loss and impressive performances. Furthermore, their last goalless draw marked their first in the competition.
However, their defensive weaknesses seem to continue while failing to keep a clean sheet in their last nine matches. Their 3-1 loss to River Plate marked another sore thumb.
Internacional vs Olimpia Head to Head
Both sides have four games against each other, with Internacional taking two wins and two draws. Here is a look at their previous encounters:
Home
- Internacional 1-0 Juventude
- Club Olimpia 0-0 Internacional
- Internacional 0-2 Sao Paulo
- Corinthians 1-1 Internacional
- Internacional 1-2 Palmeiras
Away
- Olimpia 1-3 River Plate
- Olimpia 0-0 Internacional
- River Plate 1-2 Olimpia
- Olimpia 6-2 Deportivo Achira
- Olimpia 4-1 Sportivo Luquerio
Internacional Team News
Injury contenders at the camp include Paolo Guerreiro with a knee injury while Ze Gabriel is picking a thigh issue. In addition, Renzo Savaria is unavailable for selection after also picking a thigh injury. Therefore, we might see Heito start right-back this weekend.
Olimpia Team News
A major boost for the home camp is the return of Sergio Otalvaro. This is after a one-match suspension. Moreover, it is more likely Victor Salazar will drop to the bench. Walter Gonzalez is pushing for a recall in attack to replace Jorge Recalde.
Prediction and Odds
Given the recent encounters against both sides, we expect an open game, but the home camp remains pole position to win.
- Internacional Win
- Goals Under 2.5
- No Score: Away
