Preview: Audax Italiano vs. Nublense - prediction, team news, lineups

Following last week's goalless draw in Concepcion, Chilean duo Audax Italiano and Nublense reconvene in the same city on Thursday, to see which will progress from the Copa Sudamericana playoffs.

A stalemate in the sides' first-leg clash leaves the tie in the balance, with Ecuador's LDU Quito already awaiting the winners in the last 16.

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Match preview

Despite conceding most of the ball to their opponents at Estadio Municipal de Concepcion last week, Audax Italiano held out for a 0-0 draw and retain hope of continuing their quest in the Copa Sudamericana.

Luca Marcogiuseppe's side started their campaign in South America's second-tier club competition by finishing second in Group E behind Newell's Old Boys; earning a place in this month's knockout-round playoffs.

Audax actually lost their first group game 1-0 to Newell's, but having gone on to pick up 11 points from their next five matches they ultimately claimed a top-two spot; reaching the knockout phase of a CONMEBOL competition for the first time in their history.

Approaching Thursday's second leg against domestic rivals Nublense, both teams are tied on 19 points in the Chilean Primera Division, with 12th-placed Audax sitting two spots above their opponents - and both remain dangerously close to the drop zone.

Although they are within 90 minutes of reaching the Copa Sudamericana's last-16, Los Italicos have now failed to win any of their last five matches.

That run has featured back-to-back losses at home to O'Higgins and Palestino - in the cup and league respectively - plus Sunday's dismal defeat to 10-man Copiapo, when despite having an extra player for 40 minutes Audax were still beaten 1-0.

Nublense, though, are enduring an even longer winless streak, having failed to taste victory in any of their last eight matches across all competitions.

Their most recent outing saw the club from Chillan come desperately close to ending such a sorry sequence, but in a 1-1 draw at Magallanes on Sunday, Ismael Sosa's first-half strike was eventually cancelled out by a late equaliser for their hosts.

The source of Nublense's recent woes is quite clear: since a 1-1 draw with Brazilian giants Flamengo on the fourth matchday of an unsuccessful Copa Libertadores campaign, Jaime Garcia's men have scored just once in five subsequent games.

In the club's first-ever crack at the Copa Libertadores group stage, the Diablos Rojos had to settle for a distant third-placed finish in Group A, after winning just one of six fixtures in a section also featuring Racing Club of Argentina.

Nonetheless, for a side that secured promotion to the top flight just three years ago before finishing second last season, great strides have been made - and a tie against LDU Quito will be theirs if they can see off their fellow Chileans this week.

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Team News

It remains to be seen which shape Nublense will line up in on Thursday, as coach Jaime Garcia switched to a 3-5-2 setup at the weekend, having employed four at the back in last week's first leg.

Goalkeeper Nicola Perez may therefore start behind a defensive trio comprising Rafael Caroca, Enzo Guerrero and Lucas Abascia.

Meanwhile, top scorer Patricio Rubio and midfielder Jorge Henriquez will both hope to return after being dropped for disciplinary reasons. In the former's continued absence, Ismael Sosa - who netted the opener against Magallanes - would start up front.

Audax will be looking to Gonzalo Sosa, scorer of four goals in eight Copa Sudamericana matches this season, to lead their forward line in Concepcion.

The Argentinian striker's main support should come from compatriot Gonzalo Rios, who bagged a hat-trick in Los Italicos' 5-2 league win over Nublense in April.

Audax Italiano possible starting lineup:

Ahumada; Munoz, Labrin, Bosso, Cereceda; Juarez, Diaz; Rios, Sepulveda, Fuentes; Sosa

Nublense possible starting lineup:

Perez; Abascia, Caroca, Guerrero; Cordova, Rivera, Leiva, Reyes, Rebolledo; Vilches, Rubio

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We say: Audax Italiano 0-1 Nublense (Nublense win 1-0 on aggregate)

Neither side has found the net with any regularity of late, but with a place in the last 16 on the line, both will have to come out of their shells at some stage. It may still be only one goal that decides who will progress, and Nublense can make their possession pay this time around.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.