Patronato (Argentina) vs Melgar (Peru)
Patronato are finding it hard in their first continental appearance. Last time out, the team couldn’t stop Olimpia’s offensive power and ended up losing 1-0 away in Paraguay. As a result, El Patron are pointless in group H but they have the chance of climbing into third spot in the event of winning here. Last Sunday, Walter Otta’s men drew 0-0 at home against Nueva Chicago, which places them in 13th berth of the group A table in the Argentine second division, accumulating 15 points in 12 games so far. Patronato won only one of their last six games in all competitions, drawing two and losing three. They also are winless in the last four as the hosting side (two draws and two losses). Patronato will play on Thursday at their own stadium after hosting Atletico Nacional at Colon in week one.
Meanwhile, FBC Melgar also succumbed to a heavy blow in the Copa Libertadores’ round two, when losing 3-1 to Colombia’s Atletico Nacional away at Junior. Therefore, the team are third-placed in group H on a single point, trailing Olimpia (who already played their third game) by four at the moment. Last Saturday, El Domino claimed an easy 5-0 home victory over Academia Cantolao, which keeps them in 16th place of the Peruvian league table on 11 points after 11 rounds. Melgar lost only one of their last nine competitive matches, winning two and drawing six. On away turf, they are winless in the last nine (four stalemates and five defeats).
Patronato are in 2nd division in Argentina (they’ve got a place in this competition because they won Copa Argentina in a historic season) and they know they don’t have a chance to advance, but they’ve been quite decent in their first two games showing that even if this is not their priority they are still giving their best. Melgar is their rival on the fight for the 3rd place (that would mean they go to Copa Sudamericana in the next stage) and they will finally be able to play at their own stadium, so I think they should be able to beat this very poor peruvian side that has been really bad so far this season.