Olimpia suffered a heavy blow on their visit to Liga Deportiva Universitaria, losing 3-1 in Quito last week. As a result, they need to win at least 2-0 to knock out their opponents. However, the team are in good form. That was their only defeat in the last seven competitive matches, winning five and drawing one. Last Saturday, El Decano won 2-1 at home over River Plate (Paraguay) and they remain as league leaders with nine points in three rounds. At home, Olimpia won four of the last five matches, only losing to Sporting Cristal 1-0 in May.
Liga Deportiva Universitaria has a clear opportunity to reach the Copa Libertadores’ quarter-finals for the first time since lifting the title in 2008. Their 3-1 home win over Olimpia means they would advance even losing by a single goal. On Friday, coach Pablo Repetto fielded an alternative XI and the team lost 1-0 at Guayaquil City, which stopped their two-game winning run in all competitions. Liga is sitting in the seventh spot of the Ecuadorian league table on 28 points in 19 rounds. On away turf, they lost four of their last six matches, winning one (at Olmedo 2-0 earlier this month) and drawing one.
Olimpia has a mountain to climb as they need 2 goals to win so another open game should be expected here with the hosts leaving enough open spaces in defense for the visitors’ quick attack to take advantage of them.