Universidad Catolica vs Club Libertad

Universidad Catolica’s hopes of reaching the Copa Sudamericana quarter-finals are in limbo as they must overturn a two-goal deficit against Club Libertad at the Estadio Olímpico Atahualpa.

After securing progression from Copa Sudamericana Group B as runners-up to Cruzeiro, Universidad Catolica’s continental journey hangs by a thread following a 2-0 first-leg loss in Paraguay. Though yet to lose at home in this season’s competition, the Ecuadorian side drew two of their three group-stage fixtures on home soil (W1, D2) despite keeping a clean sheet on each occasion. Los Camaratas head into proceedings in dire form, having lost four of their last five games across all competitions (W1), frustratingly conceding 2+ goals in three of those four defeats. There’s another ominous sign for Catolica. They’ve failed to win any of their three previous meetings with Club Libertad (D1, L2), drawing a blank in both losses.

As for Libertad, a precious first-leg win puts them in the driver’s seat to reach the next playoff round as they take this trip in formidable form. Since a scoreless draw against domestic rivals Tacuary in mid-May, the visitors have won seven consecutive matches in all competitions, including a thumping 4-2 away league win against that same opposition last time out. However, Libertad cannot afford to get complacent. Their away showings proved their scourge in this season’s Copa Libertadores group phase, with the Paraguayan outfit picking up just one point on three continental travels (D1, L2). They only scored once in that sequence but can draw confidence from the fact they don’t need to pack a punch to progress from this tie.