River Plate (Argentina) vs Deportivo Tachira (Venezuela)
River Plate secured their spot in the Copa Libertadores’ round-of-16 thanks to an easy 2-0 home success over Libertad from Paraguay. El Millonario made it 13 points in group H, now advantaging second-placed Nacional by three, which means they will win the group in the event of earning at least a point here. On Saturday, Martin Demichelis’ men succumbed to an unexpected 1-0 away loss to Argentinos Juniors, which keeps them on four points in the Liga Profesional. That result stopped a six-match unbeaten streak of four wins and two draws in regular time. River are without defeat in their last 12 at home, winning eight and drawing four since losing to Huracan 2-1 in November 2023.
Deportivo Tachira wasted a big chance in their last Copa Libertadores’ game, losing 1-0 to Nacional from Uruguay at home. That defeat left them in bottom spot of the group H table on a single point, trailing third-placed Libertad by three and a large goal-difference margin, which virtually drops them out of the fight for a ticket to the Copa Sudamericana playoffs. El Carrusel hadn’t seen any league action since then as they ended up in ninth spot of the Venezuelan Torneo Apertura table and failed to qualify for the playoffs. Tachira are winless in their last four in all competitions (one draw and three losses) and also remain without a win in the last ten on away turf, drawing five and losing five.
River has already secured the 1st place of the group, but they are going through a small crisis after the Copa Argentina elimination against a 2nd tier club and another defeat in the league last weekend, so they really need a big win that could improved their morale towards the future. Deportivo Tachira plays for nothing so they should be totally relaxed and I don’t expect to be able to stop River’s attack.