Estudiantes de Merida (Venezuela) vs San Lorenzo (Argentina)
Estudiantes de Merida claimed a highly celebrated victory on penalties after a 1-1 home draw against Deportivo Tachira to make it to the Copa Sudamericana group stage in their fifth appearance in the competition. On Friday, Ali Canas’ men beat Hermanos Colmenarez 1-0 at home to make it ten points in seven rounds in the Venezuelan league, occupying seventh spot and far away from leaders Academia Puerto Cabello. However, their win stopped a three-game winless streak of two draws and one loss in regular time and also a negative streak of five home matches without a 90-minute victory at home, drawing three and losing two.
An impressive final sprint allowed San Lorenzo to climb into 11th place in the aggregate table in 2022 and qualify to the Copa Sudamericana, where they will fight for their second title (champions in 2002). El Ciclon are now experiencing good form too: even though they drew 0-0 against Independiente at home last Saturday, Ruben Insua’s men are sitting in second spot in the Liga Profesional table on 17 points, four behind leaders River Plate. San Lorenzo lost only one of their last eight matches in all competitions, winning five and drawing two. On the road, they collected four points in as many games this term as a product of one victory, one draw and two defeats.
The argentinian side should be a step ahead of this midtable venezuelan team that can’t even dominate on their local league.