Athletico Paranaense will host Club Libertad in the first leg of their Copa Libertadores last 16 tie at the Estadio Joaquim Americo Guimaraes on Wednesday morning with kickoff at 03:30 EAT.
Athletico Paranaense had a difficult start to their Copa Libertadores campaign with the side winning just one of their opening four group matches and scoring just once in that period. However, Luiz Felipe Scolari will be delighted to have guided Paranaense to the knockout stages following back-to-back victories in the final two matches.
The Brazilian outfits have been knocked out of the competition at this stage in their last three attempts and will be hoping for better fortunes this time around. They head into the match in a good form having gone unbeaten in their last 11 matches across all competitions, winning all their last three in a row and will be looking to extend the run in the Wednesday’s clash.
Paranaense will build their confidence on the 2-0 victory over their Libertad in the fifth round of the group stages. However, they will need to be on top of their form as Libertad also head into the clash in good form having gone unbeaten in their last six games in all competitions, winning all their last three consecutively.
Libertad finished top of Group B on goal difference as they were level on 10 points with Paranaense, thanks to their 4-1 victory over The Strongest on the final group day.
Now the two will be battling out for a place in the quarter-finals of the competitions over the two legs in the last 16 and we predict very close affairs on the two occasions.
Paranaense vs Libertad head to head
Both sides have met in four encounters since 2005 with Paranaense claiming three victories while Libertad have claimed one victory.
- Paranaense 2-0 Libertad 19/05/22
- Libertad 1-0 Paranaense 27/04/22
- Libertad 1-2 Paranaense 21/04/05
- Paranaense 1-0 Libertad 02/03/05
Home
- Paranaense 4-2 Bragantino
- Bahia 1-2 Paranaense
- Coritiba 0-1 Paranaense
- Paranaense 1-1 Corinthians
- Fortaleza 0-0 Paranaense
Away
- Libertad 1-0 Cerro Porteno
- Sol de America 0-3 Libertad
- Libertad 2-0 Guairena
- Club Guarani 1-1 Libertad
- Libertad 4-1 The Strongest
Athletico Paranaense team news
Paranaense will be without Vitinho, Marcelo Cirino, Reinaldo, Julimar, Thiago Heleno, Agustin Cannobio and Marlos due to injuries.
Club Libertad team news
Libertad will be without Hugo Martinez, Rodrigo Borgarin, Daniel Bocanegra and Hector Villalba due to injury, while William Menieta is a doubt.
Prediction and odds
- Paranaense win
- Draw
- Goals under 2.5
