Defensa y Justicia makes their debut in the Copa Libertadores after finishing as runners-up in the Argentine 2018/19 league season. With a completely different squad, the team are performing a good campaign this term too. Last Saturday, they drew 1-1 at league leaders River Plate to remain to occupy one of the Copa Sudamericana spots on 33 points. El Halcon is on nine matches unbeaten, having won five and drawn four. At home, Defensa hasn’t lost any of the last six (four victories and two stalemates).
Santos also were runners-up in the Brazilian league last year and will start their 15th campaign in the Copa Libertadores (champions in 1962, 1963 and 2011). Last Saturday, the team drew 0-0 at home against Palmeiras to make it 12 points in eight rounds of the Sao Paulo State Championship. On a sorry note, O Peixe is on three consecutive games without a win (two draws and one defeat). All of them took place on the road and Santos couldn’t find the back of the net.
Tough debut for Defensa but considering they are confident and Santos are finding trouble to score lately, I’m going with a home win.