Deportivo Tachira (Venezuela) – River (Argentina)

Deportivo Tachira were crowned Venezuelan league champions in 2023 and will start their 26th Copa Libertadores’ campaign in history (having reached the quarter-finals in 2004). Back in the present, Eduardo Sarago’s men beat Metropolitanos FC 2-0 at home last Thursday to make it three matches without defeat, with two victories and one draw in that spell. That result also allowed them to climb into fifth spot of the Torneo Apertura on 16 points, five behind leaders Angostura FC. Tachira lost only one of their last 24 home matches (1-0 to Academia Puerto Cabello in early March), winning 17 and drawing six.

Meanwhile, River Plate continue to seek their fifth Copa Libertadores’ title after qualifying as Liga Profesional champions last winter. Last Friday, Martin Demichelis’ men succumbed to an unexpected 1-0 away defeat to Huracan, their first competitive loss in 2024 (after 18 matches unbeaten, nine victories and nine draws in regular time). That result dropped them down to fourth spot in the Copa Liga Profesional group A, holding a playoff berth just by goal difference over Velez Sarsfield. On away turf, River have been winless in the last four, drawing three and losing one.

River won’t have any problems to advance from this group that looks quite easy for them but it doesn’t mean that they will easily win every game. They had a tough trip to Venezuela, having to land in Colombia and going by bus through the border to Venezuela, and Tachira has been solid in the venezuelan league so while it would be expected that this ends in an away win, the spread looks too big to cover.