Estudiantes vs Atletico Paranaense
Estudiantes secured an important scoreless away draw on their visit to Athletico Paranaense last Thursday, which gives them the opportunity of advancing to the semi-finals in the event of winning at home. On Sunday, coach Ricardo Zielinski fielded an alternative XI that ended up drawing 0-0 away at San Lorenzo. El Pincha continue to perform an irregular campaign in the Liga Profesional, with 13 points in 12 games. In fact, they won only one of their last eight games in all competitions, along with four stalemates and three defeats. On a positive note, Estudiantes are on four home games unbeaten (two victories and two draws).
Meanwhile, Athletico Paranaense will have to make an effort in order to reach the Copa Libertadores top four as they couldn’t open up the scoreline against Estudiantes at home last week. On Sunday, the side secured a massive 3-2 away success at Atletico Mineiro to climb hold onto the fourth place in the Brasileirao table, accumulating 37 points after 21 rounds and currently qualifying for the next Copa Libertadores. Luiz Felipe Scolari’s men are on four matches unbeaten in all competitions (two wins and two draws) but they won only one of the last five on the road (drawing two and losing two).
I expect another tight game like in the scoreless draw at Brazil, with neither team taking risks and maybe going to the penalties shootout.