Copa Libertadores: Cerro Porteno x Colo-Colo, Match Preview, Odds and Predictions(30/05/2024)

On Thursday morning, at Estadio Ueno La Nueva Olla, Cerro Porteno and Colo-Colo will play their last Copa Libertadores group stage encounter.

Only Fluminense has qualified for the round of 16 from group A, bottom-club Alianza Lima, and these teams still have a chance to join the Brazilian team in the knockout phase.

Cerro Porteno x Colo-Colo Team News

The hosts will still be missing Bruno Valdez and Lucas Quintana, two vital defensive players who have been sidelined for extended periods due to cruciate ligament injuries.

Following their withdrawals from the team's victory against Tacuary over the weekend, midfielder Jorge Morel and striker Wilder Viera Caballero are listed as doubts about this game.

The visitors will have to make do without Damian Pizarro and Vidal for their midweek trip to Asuncion. Both players are banned after their dismissals against Alianza Lima in the previous game.

Cesar Fuentes is anticipated to return to first-team action only in mid-October after suffering a cruciate ligament injury in March. The midfield three for this one is probably Gonzalo Castellani, Leonardo Gil, and Bolados.

Head To Head And Previous Matches

Under exceptional circumstances, Cerro Porteno is now in second place in this tournament, which has proven to be the hardest to forecast. There is only one game remaining.

Not only do the Paraguayan Primera Division team and its opponent share five points, but they also have the same goal differential and scored the same number of goals overall and in away games—the first three tiebreakers in the league.

The group rankings consequently favor Manolo Jimenez's team because of their better CONMEBOL position of 19th, which is seven places higher than Colo-Colo in 26th.

El Ciclon's three-game losing streak in the Copa Libertadores was extended a few weeks ago when they fell 2-1 to Fluminense. Matchday two at home against Alianza Lima was their sole win to date.

Still, the hosts remain undefeated at Estadio Ueno La Nueva Olla in the continental competition; yet, this opponent defeated them 1-0 when they traveled to Macul for their opening day match at the beginning of April.

Even though Colo-Colo is in third place in the group right now, they have a good chance of making it to the next round and are coming into this game with a lot of momentum.

Their new addition and former Barcelona midfielder Arturo Vidal scored his third goal of the season in nine games during their convincing 3-0 victory against Deportes Iquique over the weekend. Guillermo Paiva and Marco Bolados both scored to clinch the points.

With the victory, Jorge Almiron's team had won four straight games (W3 D1 L0); the only tie during that time came on matchday five of this league, two weeks earlier against Alianza Lima.

If Colo-Colo wins, they will surpass Cerro Porteno and take second place; however, if they tie, they will be able to climb the standings as they will have three away goals in the tournament, one more than the Paraguayan team.

If both teams draw, however, it would also open the way for Alianza Lima, who are just one point behind and, should they defeat Fluminense, might in at the last minute.

Our Predictions

Under 2.5 goals @1.52 on Sky247.ng

Though both teams have been playing well lately, the hosts have been rather tough to defeat at Estadio Ueno La Nueva Olla and have not let up a goal in this tournament.

We expect a very close game, and we believe that the first goal will probably win.

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