- Team form: Independiente Rivadavia have won four and drawn one of their last five games in all competitions.
- Opposition form: Deportivo La Guaira are unbeaten in five, winning two and drawing three.
- Home record: Independiente Rivadavia are unbeaten with one win and zero goals conceded at home in the Copa Libertadores.
Independiente flying high at home
Independiente Rivadavia have made a perfect start to their inaugural Copa Libertadores campaign, sitting top of Group C with six points from a possible six, and they’ll be looking to maintain that record with a result against Venezuela’s Deportivo La Guaira. Alfredo Berti’s side have been simply impeccable since the start of the new season, winning four and drawing one of their five competitive games, including a perfect two wins from two in their group stage matches in this competition.
That means they come into this clash as huge favorites at 1.43. That’s not an especially attractive price given that La Guaira arrive unbeaten in their last five and in 2nd place in the group with two points from two games, although they’re still searching for a first win in this season’s competition. However, an away win looks equally unappealing given that the Venezuelans are yet to do so.
La Guaira can make life difficult for the hosts
Tactical setup
Berti sets up his side in a rigid 4-2-3-1 system, in which they are incredibly disciplined, pressing the ball effectively and flooding the middle of the field when they have it. They’re solid at the back, build up the ball well and are incredibly clinical going forward.
Hector Bidoglio’s La Guaira, meanwhile, look to stay compact, setting up with a back four and a low-mid block. They look to counter attack quickly when they get the ball back or, if they manage to keep it, they can play out wide to their wingers.
Key players
In Leonard Costa (1 assist in 2 group games), they have the perfect midfielder to overburden the middle of the pitch and supply the dangerous Alex Arce (1 goal in 2 Copa Libertadores matches) with chances behind the defense, while they can also be effective on the counter-attack.
Jose Meza (1 assist in 2 group games) is the Venezuelan side’s chief creator in the final third, where Flabian Londono (1 goal in 2 matches) is the most lethal finisher and a real threat on the break.
- Leonard Costa (1 assist in 2 group games)
- Alex Arce (1 goal in 2 Copa Libertadores matches)
- Jose Meza (1 assist in 2 group games)
- Flabian Londono (1 goal in 2 matches)
End-to-end clash could see both teams on the scoresheet
This fixture will be a fascinating clash of tactics as Independiente Rivadavia, who like to press and play with the number advantage in the center of the park, goes up against Deportivo La Guaira, who stay compact and look to hurt sides on the transition. The hosts have an excellent home record this season and are unbeaten in the Copa Libertadores (6 points from 2 matches), so we’re backing them to grind out a result here.
There’s a good chance we see both sides hit the net as the visitors are dangerous on the attack, so we’re taking BTTS at 2.24 and over 2.5 goals at 2.04.
