The round of 16 of the Copa Libertadores gets underway as Athletico Paranaense play host to Club Libertad at the Estadio Joaquim Americo Guimaraes on Tuesday.
Having squared off twice in the group stages, where the honours were shared with both sides claiming one win apiece, this game has all the makings of a thrilling and nerve-racking contest.
Match preview
© Reuters
After managing just one win from their opening four games, Luiz Felipe Scolari will be delighted to have guided Athletico Paranaense to the knockout stages of this season's Copa Libertadores.
The Brazilian outfit picked up three wins one draw and lost three of their six games in Group B to pick up 10 points and finish runners-up in the standings, only below first-placed Club Libertad on goal difference.
Perhaps their most impressive group-stage performance came on May 26, when Pablo scored two goals and created one to hand them a comfortable 5-1 victory over Venezuelan side Caracas.
The win came just three weeks after suffering successive defeats, including a 5-0 thumping at the hands of The Strongest when both sides met in Bolivia's Estadio Hernando Siles.
Athletico Paranaense head into Tuesday's game in super form, claiming eight wins and three draws in their last 11 outings across all competitions since a 2-1 defeat against Fluminense in the Brasileiro Serie A on May 15.
This fine run of results also sees the Furacao seated comfortably in the upper echelons of the Serie A standings as they currently occupy third place, four points off league leaders Palmeiras.
© Reuters
Club Libertad, on the other hand, needed a 4-1 victory over The Strongest in their group to secure their place in the round of 16 of the Copa Libertadores after a run of back-to-back defeats.
Having picked up seven points from their opening three games, the Paraguayan outfit fell to a 1-0 defeat at Caracas on May 3 before losing 2-0 against Athletico Paranaense two weeks later.
The Gumarelo Repollero are currently on a run of six games without defeat across all competitions, claiming five wins and one draw while scoring 12 goals and keeping four clean sheets since their group-stage loss to Tuesday's hosts.
Club Libertad have also won each of their last three outings — all coming in the Paraguayan Primera Division, where they are unbeaten in 16 of their 17 games this season and sit top of the league standings with a seven-point cushion over second-placed Cerro Porteno.
While Daniel Garnero's side seek to place one foot in the quarter-finals of the Copa Libertadores, they will need to get over their struggles on the road as they have failed to win any of their three away games this term, picking up one draw and losing three back in the group stages.
However, next up is the challenge of taking on a rampant Athletico Paranaense side, who have won each of their three home games in the continental showpiece and are unbeaten in nine straight across all competitions.
- D
- W
- L
- L
- W
- W
- W
- D
- D
- W
- W
- W
- D
- W
- W
- L
- L
- W
- W
- W
- D
- W
- W
- W
Team News
© Reuters
Athletico Paranaense will take to the pitch without the attacking duo of Vitinho and Marlon, who have been sidelined through thigh and calf injuries respectively.
They are joined on the club's injury table by 23-year-old midfielder Agustin Canobbio, who is set to sit out his ninth straight game through an ankle problem.
Veteran defender Thiago Heleno picked up a shoulder injury back in March's game against Coritiba and is out of contention for Tuesday's game.
As for the visitors, Garnero will be unable to call upon the services of 22-year-old midfielder Hugo Martinez, who has been out of action since February through a muscle injury.
Club Libertad will also make do without Brighton & Hove Albion loanee Julio Enciso, who picked up an injury 33 minutes into the league game against Club Olimpia on May 8.
Athletico Paranaense possible starting lineup:
Bento; Orejuela, Matheus, Hernandez, Vinicius; Erick, Moura; Romulo, Bueno, Pedrinho; Pablo
Club Libertad possible starting lineup:
Silva; Piris, Bocanegra, Vieira, Espinoza; Merlini, Benitez, Diaz, Bogarin; Santa Cruz, Melgarejo
We say: Athletico Paranaense 2-1 Club Libertad
Having met in the group stages, Athletico Paranaense and Club Libertad are familiar foes in this year's Copa Libertadores and this makes for a thrilling watch. We are backing the hosts to make use of their home advantage and see off the Paraguayans, who have struggled to find their feet on the road so far.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Joshua Ojele
