Defensa y Justicia (Argentina) – Always Ready (Bolivia)

Defensa y Justicia took their first step towards next round in the Copa Sudamericana, winning 1-0 away at Universidad Cesar Vallejo last week thanks to a goal from Yorman Zapata in the second half. On Saturday, coach Julio Vaccari fielded a mostly alternative XI but his team still won 2-0 away at San Lorenzo to remain occupying third spot in the Copa Liga Profesional group B table, accumulating 23 points in 13 matches. El Halcon are on three consecutive victories in a row without even conceding in all competitions. At home, they won the last two over Union Santa Fe and Estudiantes.

Meanwhile, Always Ready are leaders in group A thanks to their remarkable 2-0 home success over Colombia’s Independiente Medellin, with Wesley da Silva and Pablo Lima (own goal) finding the back of the net. On Saturday, a completely alternative XI ended up losing 2-1 away at Universitario de Vinto, closing the team’s campaign in the Bolivian Torneo Apertura as they accumulated six points in eight matches and failed to clinch a ticket for the quarter-finals. Always lost four of their last five matches in all competitions (along with a single victory) as they also are without a win in their last 17 on away turf, drawing five and losing 12 since beating Libertad Gran Mamore 2-1 in July 2023.

Always Ready are one team when they play at the massive 4100 mts of altittude in Bolivia, but totally different when they play somwhere else as shown on their terrible 0-5-12 record on their last 17 away games. Defensa shouldn’t have any problems to beat them so I’ll bet on them despite the big handicap.

BET: Defensa y Justicia -1.75 @ 1.93