12 de Octubre (Paraguay) vs Rosario Central (Argentina)
12 de Octubre finished in seventh spot in the Paraguayan league in 2020 to qualify to the Copa Sudamericana for the first time ever after reaching the group stage in the Copa Libertadores 2003. In the preliminary round, they beat Nacional Asuncion on penalties after two scoreless stalemates. Last Friday, the team drew 1-1 at home against Guarani to make it 11 points in 12 rounds in the league, which places them in eighth berth out of ten teams and compromises their top-flight status. El Globo are on six matches unbeaten in all competitions, winning one and drawing five in regular time, but they also are winless in three at home (two draws and one defeat).
Having finished in 11th spot in the 2019/20 Argentine aggregate table, Rosario Central are back in the Copa Sudamericana after their poor performance in 2018, when they lost to Brazilian side Sao Paulo in the first round. Last Friday, El Canalla won 1-0 at Aldosivi to make it two consecutive victories and accumulate 15 points in ten rounds, which allows them to approach the playoff zone in group A. Central lost one of their last five competitive games, winning two and drawing two. The aforementioned win at Aldosivi stopped a five-match winless streak of one draw and four defeats on away turf.
Even if the hosts are inexperienced in international competitions, I can’t see Rosario as such a big favorite when they are struggling in the argentinean league and they will be happy with a draw here.
BET: 12 de Octubre +0.5 @ 1.85