Atletico Paranaense will participate in the Recopa Sudamericana for the first time ever after lifting the Copa Sudamericana title in 2018 when beating Junior from Colombia on penalties. Heading back to the present, O Furacao are performing an irregular league campaign with seven points in five rounds. Last Sunday, coach Tiago Nunes fielded an alternative XI and the side lost 2-0 at home to Corinthians, which stopped a 12-game unbeaten run at Arena da Baixada (11 wins, one draw). Overall, they won only one of their last six games, drawing two and losing three.
Copa Libertadores’ defending champions River Plate will seek their third Recopa Sudamericana title after winning this trophy in 2015 and 2016. Marcelo Gallardo’s men haven’t seen national action last weekend, as they were knocked out of the Superliga Cup a week ago in spite of having beaten Atletico Tucuman 4-1 at home. The team suffered a single defeat in their last eight competitive games, winning five and drawing two. On away turf, they booked five victories, five draws and only one loss.
I expect a hard-fought game between two interesting squads. River Plate seems better and I think they should be able to take something home in this 1st game.
BET: River Plate +0.25Â @ 1.79