Rosario Central vs Fortaleza Match Analysis & Prediction
15/08/2024 1:00 am
Rosario Central will play host to Fortaleza at Estadio Gigante de Arroyito for the first leg of their round-of-16 tie in the Copa Sudamericana on Thursday.
The hosts overcame Internacional 2-1 on aggregate in the last round, while the visitors secured automatic qualification to the last 16 by finishing top of Group D.
After a disappointing Copa Libertadores campaign, in which they finished third in their group with seven points in six matches, Rosario Central dropped to this competition and needed to get past Internacional to keep their continental cup ambitions alive.
Following a 1-0 home victory in the first leg, they took an early lead at Arena Castelao a week later through an Agustin Sandez strike, and held on to see off their opponents, who pulled a goal back early in the second half.
However, following that result, Rosario suffered successive league defeats to Huracan and Union, which saw them drop into the bottom half of the Argentine Primera Division standings, and also marked the end for Miguel Angel Russo, who was dismissed after the second loss.
Matias Lequi has now taken on the role of caretaker manager, and under his guidance Rosario have won their last two matches, both by a 1-0 scoreline against Gimnasia La Plata and Newell’s Old Boys.
Despite the difficulties they faced in the Copa Libertadores, Rosario won two of their three home matches, as well as their round of 32 game on home soil in this competition, and they are the bookmakers’ favourite here.
Meanwhile, after a fairly poor 2023 campaign, which saw them miss out on Copa Libertadores qualification due to their 10th-placed finish in Brasileiro, Fortaleza have been much better this season.
They are currently on a three-game league winning run and unbeaten in their last eight top-flight matches, which has taken them to second place in the Brasileiro standings, just one point behind leaders Botafogo.
However, Fortaleza’s performances have not been confined to just the domestic competition, as they secure the top spot in their group in this tournament as well, posting a record of four wins, one draw and one loss in their six games to finish two points ahead of Boca Juniors.
During the group stage, Juan Pablo Vojvoda’s side split their away games one win, one draw and one loss, although they are currently unbeaten in their last three on the road across all competitions, and have lost just one of their last five.
Rosario Central vs. Fortaleza Head to head
This will be the first meeting between these two teams.
-
15/08/2024N/AN/AN/AN/AN/A
-
15/08/2024N/AN/AN/AN/AN/A
-
15/08/2024N/AN/AN/AN/AN/A
-
15/08/2024N/AN/AN/AN/AN/A
-
15/08/2024Rosario CentralN/AFortalezaN/ACONMEBOL Sudamericana
Rosario Central Team News
Rosario Central have just one confirmed injury absentee for this game in the form of Agustin Bravo, who sustaining a cruciate ligament tear in April and could miss the remainder of the season.
Agustin Modica (four Libertadores goals in the group stage) was dropped to the bench for the last three games and will be hoping to return to the starting XI in midweek.
Rosario Central's Last 5 Matches
-
28/07/2024Rosario Central0Huracan1Liga Profesinal Argentina
-
01/08/2024Union1Rosario Central0Liga Profesional Argentina
-
05/08/2024Gimnasia La Plata0Rosario Central1Liga Profesional
-
10/08/2024Rosario Central1Newell's Old Boys0Liga Profesional Argentina
-
11/08/2024Juventud Pueyrredon3Rosario Central1Copa Santa Fe
Fortaleza Team News
Juan Martin Lucero sustained a muscle injury against Criciuma at the end of July and is still a few weeks away from a return.
In his absence, Renato Kayzer and Breno Lopes are the most likely to lead the line for Fortaleza here.
Fortaleza's Last 5 Matches
-
22/07/2024Fortaleza3Atletico Goianiense1Serie A
-
25/07/2024Criciuma1Fortaleza1Serie A
-
28/07/2024Fortaleza1Sao Paulo0Serie A
-
06/08/2024Cruzeiro1Fortaleza2Serie A
-
10/08/2024Fortaleza1Criciuma0Serie A
Rosario Central vs. Fortaleza: Odds and Predictions
Main Prediction
Double Chance: Rosario or X
Best Odds
1000% Super Multi Bonus
Up to 10 times (1000%) larger winnings on bets placed during Happy Hour
CLAIM BONUS