Penarol were able to take a point on their visit to Velez Sarsfield last Wednesday when drawing 0-0 in an intense game. The team will need to win at home in order to advance without a penalty shootout. On Sunday, Mario Saralegui’s men lost 2-1 away at Defensor Sporting, which means they won only one of their last five competitive matches, drawing two and losing two. However, they have been strong at home lately, having won four, drawn one and lost one of the last six.
Velez Sarsfield will need to avoid the defeat in Uruguay after the scoreless home draw in Buenos Aires. On Saturday, coach Mauricio Pellegrino fielded an alternative XI, which also drew 1-1 against Huracan at Estadio Jose Amalfitani. Therefore, El Fortin has managed a single victory in their last five matches in all competitions, along with two stalemates and two defeats. On away turf, they lost at Independiente 1-0 on 14th March, which stopped a two-game winning run on the road.
I expect another hard-fought game so I can’t see Peñarol as big favourites.