Rosario Central (Argentina) vs Caracas (Venezuela)
Rosario Central are facing a difficult moment in the Copa Libertadores. In week four, the team put up a good fight against Atletico Mineiro but ended up losing 1-0 at home (behind closed doors). As a result, El Canalla remain third-placed in group G on four points, trailing Penarol (who have already played in round five) by five at the moment. So they need to win both remaining games to advance to the round-of-16. On Friday, coach Miguel Russo fielded an alternative XI and his team lost 3-2 away at Argentinos Juniors in the Liga Profesional opener. Overall, Central are on six matches without a win (two draws and four losses). At home, they won only one of the last four (drawing one and losing two).
Caracas FC are one of the worst teams in this Copa Libertadores’ group stage. In week four, they succumbed to a deserved 1-0 home defeat to Penarol, which left them without any chances of advancing to the round-of-16 as they accumulated a single point from 12 available so far. The team could at most qualify for the Copa Sudamericana playoff, now trailing their next opponents (in third) by three points. Los Rojos haven’t seen any league action since April 19 as they finished in 11th spot of the Torneo Apertura table, failing to qualify for the quarter-finals. Overall, Caracas are winless in their last 15 matches (drawing seven and losing eight), seven of which took place on the road (four draws and three losses).
Rosario Central are still alive and depending on themselves in this competition: they must win this game, and then beat Peñarol at Uruguay to advance to the next stage, but they need to go step by step and first win here. Caracas is in a terrible run in all competitions, they have no chances at all in this one so they won’t be focused on this game at all, so it’s the perfect spot for Rosario Central to get a big win and improve their confidence.