Zulia FC continues to make history in the Copa Sudamericana. The team reached the quarter-finals for the first time ever after taking advantage of the away goals rule following a 3-2 defeat at Sporting Cristal last week. On Sunday, an alternative XI lost 2-0 at Deportivo Tachira, which means the team earned three points in two weeks of league action. Zulia is on nine home matches without defeat in all competitions, with six wins and three draws since April, when they lost 1-0 to Nacional Potosi but won on penalties afterwards.
Meanwhile, Colon recovered from their home slump and beat Argentinos Juniors on penalties after a 1-0 away victory on July 18th to advance to this stage (which stopped a three-game winless run on their travels, earning a single point in that span). However, coach Pablo Lavallen job’s is at stake as the team have not earned any points in two rounds of the Superliga (losing 2-0 at Huracan last Friday), which put them only two points above the relegation zone.
Zulia has been highly confident at home and they should be able to get at least a draw against this awful Colon (that won’t have their regular goalkeeper Leonardo Burian) so this odds look quite tasteful.