Independiente del Valle (Ecuador) vs Argentinos Jrs (Argentina)
Independiente del Valle secured their ticket to the Copa Libertadores’ round-of-16 following an enjoyable 3-0 home success over Corinthians in week five. Martin Anselmi’s men made it nine points in this competition, five above their last opponents, who are now sitting in third in group E. The team still hold the chance of winning the group and will do so in the event of beating Argentinos Juniors here. Their last game was a 4-3 home defeat to El Nacional, which stopped a three-match winning streak in all competitions. However, the side had already won the Ecuadorian league first stage with 34 points. At home, Independiente registered ten victories and two losses in 2023.
Argentinos Juniors will also participate in the round-of-16 thanks to a highly-celebrated 2-1 home victory over Uruguay’s Liverpool FC in week five, with Lucas Villalba netting the winner in the 95th minute. El Bicho are now group E leaders on 11 points and will win the zone in the event of avoiding the defeat here. Last Friday, Gabriel Milito’s men beat Defensa y Justicia 3-1 at home to make it four victories in a row in all competitions. In fact, they climbed into ninth spot of the league table on 32 points. Argentinos lost only one of their last seven away matches, winning three and drawing three.
Both teams are already through to the next stage but the 1st place of the group is in play here. Argentinos will take it with a draw so I think they will play a slow game and considering how solid they’ve both been defensively in this competition, I expect to see a tight game.