Independiente del Valle (Ecuador) vs Defensa y Justicia (Argentina)
Third-placed in the Ecuadorian league in 2020, Independiente del Valle beat Union Espanola (Chile) and Gremio (Brazil) in the preliminary rounds to reach the group stage. Last week, they won 2-1 in Porto Alegre to make it 4-2 on aggregate. On Sunday, a rotated XI had enough to beat 9 de Octubre 2-1 at home to climb into third place in the Liga Pro on 16 points (with one game in hand), four behind leaders Emelec. Independiente are on eight matches unbeaten in all competitions (seven wins and one draw). They also are without defeat in the last ten as hosts, winning nine of those in different venues. They will play at LDU Quito on Wednesday.
Defensa y Justicia will participate in the Copa Libertadores for the second time in history after lifting the Copa Sudamericana title last season. On Sunday, the team lost 1-0 at Independiente with their usual XI, which places them in seventh spot of the group B table in the Copa Liga Profesional on 12 points, four behind the last playoff place. El Halcon won only one of their last six competitive matches, drawing two and losing three. That success (2-1 at Palmeiras last Wednesday in the Recopa) is also their only victory across the last nine away matches, along with three stalemates and five defeats.
Independiente del Valle has been a very solid team the last few seasons and especially at home where they have the altitude factor. Defensa is also a very good team, but they’ve played too many games lately, they have a short squad and they should struggle here.
BET: Independiente del Valle -1 @ 1.80