Junior (Colombia) – Colo Colo (Chile)

Junior fans will have felt devastated after the team’s 1-0 away defeat to CSD Colo Colo as they conceded in the last minutes of the game, which forces them to win at home in the return leg. On Saturday, El Tiburon won 2-1 against Fortaleza CEIF at home to make it eight points in five matches in the Colombian Torneo Finalizacion, entering the playoff zone. In addition, they stopped a three-game winless streak of two draws and one loss in all competitions. Junior also are unbeaten in the last five at home, winning three and drawing two.

CSD Colo Colo are now closer to securing a ticket to the Copa Libertadores’ quarter-finals thanks to a 1-0 home success over Junior last Tuesday, with Carlos Palacios netting the winner in the 76th minute. On Friday, the team also beat Coquimbo Unido 2-0 at home to stay second-placed in the Chilean league table on 36 points, trailing leaders Universidad Chile by four and holding one game in hand. Overall, El Cacique are unbeaten in their last ten competitive matches, winning seven and drawing three. Colo Colo also won their last six matches at home.

I expect a very tight game here between these two solid teams, pretty much like it was in the 1st leg at Chile. Colo Colo are on a long unbeaten run and they are expected to have veteran Arturo Vidal back with them so that should make them even tougher. Junior are a good team but not as good as they were early in the year. In the groups stage they only got 3 draws at home and being forced to win could be a problem for them, so I’ll go with the visitors to avoid a defeat.

BET: Colo Colo +0.25 @ 2.03