Always Ready (Bolivia) – Defensa y Justicia (Argentina)
Always Ready continue to make history in the Copa Sudamericana. In round three, the team secured an important 2-0 home success over Peru’s Universidad Cesar Vallejo to become the only group A leaders on seven points, one above second-placed Independiente Medellin. While waiting for the Bolivian Torneo Clausura to start, Flabio Torres’ men succumbed to a single defeat across their last four matches in all competitions, along two wins and one draw. In fact, Always won six and lost two of the last nine as the hosting side, losing only once in that spell.
Meanwhile, Defensa y Justicia took a big step back in their fight to advance to next round in the Copa Sudamericana: two weeks ago, they lost 2-1 away at Colombia’s Independiente Medellin, dropping down to third spot of the group A table on four points, two behind their last opponents. That defeat stopped a six-match unbeaten streak of four victories and two stalemates in all competitions and also a run of seven games without defeat as the visiting side, winning four and drawing three.
Can’t see Defensa y Justicia handling well the 4150 mts of altitude of El Alto where Always Ready plays at home. They’ve been very disappointing so far in this competition and if they don’t win here they could be almost eliminated so they will have to take risks which could be definitely a problem when they start feeling the lack of oxygen of playing at such a high altitude.
BET: Always Ready -1 @ 1.95