Gremio (Brazil) vs Estudiantes (Argentina)
Gremio FBPA secured their ticket to the Copa Libertadores round-of-16 last Tuesday, when they beat Huachipato from Chile 1-0 away thanks to a strike from Diego Costa in the first half. The team climbed into second spot in group C on nine points and will end up in first they win here. Renato Portaluppi’s men lost only one of their last four matches in all competitions, winning two and drawing one, but they accumulated just six points in five league matches this term. O Tricolor lost 2-0 to Red Bull Bragantino in their last home match (at Estadio Couto Pereira), stopping a three-match winning streak as the hosting side.
Estudiantes will close their continental campaign in 2024 on Saturday: following their 4-3 home defeat to Huachipato FC in matchday 6, El Pincha are now bottom-placed in group C on four points, running out of chances to climb into third place and advance to the Copa Sudamericana playoff. On Monday, Eduardo Dominguez’s men drew 1-1 against Godoy Cruz at their own stadium to make it seven points in four Liga Profesional matches. They remain without a win in the last three competitive games, drawing one and losing two. Estudiantes registered two victories, one stalemate and two defeats across their last five away games.
Estudiantes suffered a very disappointing elimination of a group where they were expected to advance, and that also cost them a few bad results in the league where they still can’t recover. They will go to this game with nothing to play for, without midfielder Ascascibar, strikers Guido Carrillo and Tiago Palacios, and they are very likely going to use a mixed lineup to avoid any further injuries. Gremio has already advanced but the difference for them between a win or any other result is big: if they draw or lose they will have to play brazilian giants Fluminense in the next round, but if they win and finish first they will play bolivian side The Strongest, so there should be a clear motivation for the hosts to win and face the much weaker opponent in the Round of 16.