River Plate (Argentina) vs Fluminense (Brazil)
With midfielder Enzo Perez as goalkeeper and no substitutes due to Covid-19, River Plate were still able to clinch a much-needed 2-1 home success over Independiente Santa Fe (Colombia) last Wednesday, which allowed them to climb into the top of the group D table on nine points, one above their next opponents. The team will advance to the Copa Libertadores’ round-of-16 in the event of avoiding defeat here (and that would also give them the first spot). Overall, El Millonario are on five matches without defeat (winning two and drawing three in regular time). River also won the last three at their own stadium.
Meanwhile, Fluminense put their ticket to the round-of-16 in jeopardy last Tuesday, when they lost 2-1 at home to Junior from Colombia. As a result, the team dropped down to second spot in group D on eight points and only a victory at River Plate would qualify them for sure. In the event of a draw, they would have to wait for another result. On Saturday, they lost 3-1 at Flamengo in the return leg of the Rio de Janeiro State Championship final and finished as runners-up following a 4-2 aggregate result. That stopped a seven-game unbeaten run of five victories and two draws on the road. Overall, Roger Machado’s men are on three winless games, drawing one and losing two.
A draw will be enough for River but the brazilian side will need to win if Junior wins at Colombia, so I have to expect a game that could be open when news come from Colombia about the other deciding game.
BET: OVER 2.5 @ 1.92