Antofagasta vs Defensa y Justicia
Antofagasta secured their ticket to the group stage by beating Union Espanola on penalties despite losing 1-0 at home in the return leg. The team are struggling at the moment: following their 1-1 away draw at Nublense, El Puma accumulated only six points in eight matches in the Chilean league and are above the relegation places just by goal difference. Juan Domingo Tolisano’s men are on four winless games in all competitions, with two draws and two defeats in regular time. At home, Antofagasta haven’t claimed any victories across the last five, drawing two and losing three.
Thanks to their excellent second semester, 2020 Copa Sudamericana champions Defensa y Justicia managed to climb into the seventh spot of the aggregate league table in 2021 to qualify for this competition. Last Saturday, El Halcon lost 2-1 to River Plate at home, which put an end to their seven-match unbeaten streak of five victories and two draws in all competitions. The team have been displaced from the playoff spots in the Copa Liga Profesional’s group A, accumulating 14 points in eight rounds. In addition, Defensa won eight of their last ten away matches (one draw and one loss), including the last three.
I don’t think a small and poor team like Antofagasta that are currently struggling in their local league can do much against this very solid Defensa y Justicia.