River Plate qualified for the Copa Libertadores’ round-of-16 following a 2-1 home success over Sao Paulo at Independiente. After that win, Marcelo Gallardo’s men are on eight points in Group D, two behind leaders LDU Quito, and will leapfrog them in the event of winning here. El Millonario has been unbeaten in their last five competitive matches, with three wins and two draws since losing to the Ecuadorian side 3-0 away with a young XI. River remains undefeated as hosts in 2020, having collected 13 points from 15 on offer.
Meanwhile, LDU Quito has also clinched their ticket to next round by beating Deportivo Binacional 4-0 at home. With ten points so far, Pablo Repetto’s men need to avoid the defeat in Argentina to win Group D. Liga collected three points in two games in the Ecuadorian league’s second stage after losing 3-2 away at Independiente del Valle, which stopped their 12-game unbeaten run of ten victories and two draws in all competitions. Five of those games took place on away turf, with the side winning three and drawing two.
They are already both qualified to the Round of 16, but River will try to win it to get the 1st place and that should make it an open game considering a draw or defeat is the same for them. Both have enough attacking power to score and I expect goals.