LDU Quito (Ecuador) – Lanus (Argentina)
LDU Quito overcame the Copa Sudamericana playoff after losing 3-1 away at Bolivia’s Always Ready (winning 4-3 on aggregate) to reach the round of 16. On Saturday, they also won 2-1 against Cumbaya at home to make it six points from a possible six in the Ecuadorian league second stage. In fact, Pablo Sanchez’s men have been unbeaten in their last three competitive matches, winning two and drawing one in regular time. Liga also are holding a four-match winning streak at Estadio Rodrigo Paz Delgado.
Lanus closed up the Copa Sudamericana group stage with a surprising 1-0 home defeat to Cuiaba EC, but they still were able to finish as group G leaders on 13 points, one above their last opponents. On Friday, El Granate lost 3-1 away at newcomers Deportivo Riestra, which means they remain on 15 points in ten Liga Profesional rounds (still occupying one of the Copa Sudamericana spots in the aggregate table). Ricardo Zielinski’s men won two and lost two of their last five in all competitions (along with one draw). On a sorry note, Lanus remain winless in the last five on away turf, drawing three and losing two.
Lanus has been scoring as well as conceding a lot of goals lately: 11 and 11 in the last 6 games, including 3 last weekend against the poor Deportivo Riestra. LDU Quito will have the usual altitude advantage at home, and won’t have their starting goalkeeper who is suspended so an open game is definitely possible here and I’ll go with the OVER.