Independiente Medellin (Colombia) vs San Lorenzo (Argentina)
Independiente Medellin fans will have felt highly frustrated after the team’s 3-1 away defeat at Brazil’s SC Internacional as they dropped down from first to third spot of the Copa Libertadores’ group B. Accumulating ten points, they couldn’t advance to the round-of-16. It was their last competitive game as they haven’t seen any league action since June 17, when losing 2-1 away at Millonarios in the playoffs group B. Medellin are on three competitive defeats in all competitions and also lost their last game at home (1-0 to America), which broke a seven-match unbeaten streak of four victories and four draws as the hosting side.
San Lorenzo were able to claim the victory they needed to keep their hope alive in the Copa Sudamericana: they beat Venezuela’s Estudiantes de Merida 4-1 at home and took advantage of Palestino’s home defeat to Fortaleza EC to climb into second spot of the group H table on eight points. Last Saturday, El Ciclon ended up drawing 0-0 at their own stadium against league leaders River Plate to remain occupying third place in the Liga Profesional table on 43 points. San Lorenzo are on eight matches unbeaten in all competitions, but six of those ended in draws. On away turf, they have been winless in the last four, drawing two and losing two since beating Banfield 2-1 in May.
San Lorenzo is the toughest team in Argentina right now, they barely concede any goals and come from a very solid performance against the champions River, while Medellin was below mediocre in the league and they have a new coach that started working a week ago, so the visitors should be able to take something from this game.