Racing Club (Argentina) vs Aucas (Ecuador)
Racing Club grabbed their first win in the 2023 Copa Libertadores two weeks ago, when beating Chile’s Nublense 2-0 away from home thanks to goals from Matias Rojas and Paolo Guerrero. However, the team deflated their performance since then, having not won any of the last three competitive games (one draw and two defeats): last Sunday, La Academia drew 1-1 away in the city derby at Independiente, which places them in ninth spot of the Liga Profesional table on 18 points after 12 rounds, trailing leaders River Plate by 12. Racing lost their last home match (1-0 to Newell’s Old Boys) after five games unbeaten at Estadio Presidente Peron (winning three and drawing two).
SD Aucas are flying really high at the moment. In fact, the Ecuadorian league winners beat defending Libertadores’ champions Flamengo from Brazil 2-1 at home in the opener, even reversing the score. Last Saturday, the team also won 1-0 away at Tecnico Universitario in domestic action, making it 11 points in six Liga Pro rounds to occupy third place of the table, just two behind leaders Independiente del Valle. Overall, Aucas are on six matches unbeaten, having won four and drawn two in that time. On away turf, the side haven’t lost any of the last nine, winning five and drawing four since losing 2-0 at 9 de Octubre in the 2022 Copa Ecuador quarter-finals.
Racing won’t have midfielder Matias Rojas, who has been by far their best player this year and also will miss another important player like Anibal Moreno, so this handicap looks definitely too big against this solid Aucas that on the first game beat defending champions Flamengo.