San Lorenzo (Argentina) vs Palestino (Chile)
San Lorenzo fans will have felt heartbroken after the team’s 3-2 away defeat at Fortaleza EC in round four. Following that loss, El Ciclon are sitting in third spot of the Copa Sudamericana group H table on four points and need to win the two remaining games in order to keep their hope alive. Last Sunday, Ruben Insua’s men registered a scoreless home draw against Colon and dropped down to the third place of the Argentine league table on 36 points, five behind leaders River Plate. Overall, San Lorenzo are winless in their last three games in all competitions, drawing one and losing two, but they also remain unbeaten in the last four at home, with two victories and two stalemates without even conceding.
Meanwhile, Palestino celebrated a massive 5-1 away victory at Venezuela’s Estudiantes Merida to climb into second spot of the group H table on seven points. Trailing leaders Fortaleza EC by five, they are only focusing on qualifying for the playoffs and San Lorenzo are three points behind them so far. It was their last competitive game as the Chilean league are stopped at the moment: they are sitting in 11th place on 19 points in 15 games. Palestino lost only one of their last five matches, winning two and drawing two, and they also are without defeat in the last three on the road (seven points from nine available).
I expect San Lorenzo to step up here and get the 3 points they need, otherwise they will be eliminated. They are better than this chilean team and should get the win at home after almost getting it at Chile in the reversed fixture.