Liga Deportiva Universitaria took advantage of the goal difference to leapfrog Penarol after their 4-0 home victory over San Jose and they reached the Copa Libertadores’ round-of-16. The team won 1-0 over America Quito at home last Thursday (with a rotated XI), which means they remain in the sixth spot of the Ecuadorian league table. They won two games and lost one after the winter break. At home, Liga succumbed to a single defeat in their last eight matches, winning four and drawing three.
Meanwhile, Olimpia won Group C in spite of having lost the last game (1-0 to Sporting Cristal at home). In fact, it was their only defeat in the last 31 competitive matches (with 21 wins and nine draws). Having lifted the last three league titles in Paraguay, El Decano started the new season in good style: last Friday, they beat Nacional 3-1 away to reach six points in two weeks. Olimpia is unbeaten on away turf in 2019, having claimed 13 successes and four draws.
Olimpia seems better, but Liga will be tough to beat at home. The altitude factor will make the visitors play a game as slow as possible, and I expect another tight match here.