Guarani have a mountainous task ahead of them on Thursday when they welcome Universidad de Chile to Estadio General Pablo Rojas for the second leg of that Copa Sudamericana knockout tie.

In the opening leg between these two last week, the Chileans clobbered Guarani 5-0, putting them in a strong position to make the last 16 of this tournament for the first time in over a decade.

Match preview

The shakiest defensive unit to advance out of the Copa Sudamericana group phase this year were exposed often in leg one of this tie, losing for a third successive time in this competition.

It was the second consecutive occasion that this team were beaten in this tournament 5-0, and the third straight time that they had failed to find the back of the net after conceding 12 goals in their group, the most of any team that made the knockout round.

Victor Bernay’s men come into this decisive game with just one victory from their previous six matches across all competitions, though they are unbeaten in their last two games played at home.

The last time this side won a match by five or more goals was in August 2024 at the Copa Paraguay, when they crushed Sport Union by a score of 7-0 away from home.

If there is one encouraging stat for the Paraguayans to draw upon heading into this must-win affair, it could be that they have never lost a second-leg fixture at the Copa Sudamericana in normal time, earning a 0-0 draw with Botafogo in the second match of their 2023 tie at home.

Thursday will be their fourth match against a Chilean side in this competition, and El Cacique went winless in those three prior encounters, though they earned a pair of draws in normal time versus San Felipe in 2009-10, exiting that Sudamericana on penalties.

Universidad continued their dominating ways at home in leg one of this tie, increasing their unbeaten run at Estadio Nacional Julio Martinez Pradanos to eight matches, winning four of those fixtures by four or more goals.

It would take a colossal collapse in Paraguay for them to miss out on the last 16 of the Copa Sudamericana for the first time since 2013, with La U riding a five-match unbeaten run into this contest.

Their worst defeat of the year occurred on matchday three of the Copa Libertadores group stage, when they were beaten 3-0 at home by Estudiantes in early May.

At the same time, they have not been nearly as dominant outside of Santiago in 2025, winning just one of their previous six matches played across all competitions as the visiting team, losing in three of those instances.

Gustavo Alvarez’s team are winless in their last two away matches versus sides outside of Chile, losing 1-0 in Brazil versus Botafogo and drawing Venezuelan club Carabobo 1-1, with both games taking place at the Libertadores.

The former eight-time Primera Division winners in Chile have won just one of their previous three away matches versus Guarani, coming from behind on two occasions to beat them 3-2 in Pinozoa in the second leg of their Libertadores qualifying round tie in 2014.

Guarani Copa Sudamericana form:

Guarani form (all competitions):

Universidad de Chile Copa Sudamericana form:

Universidad de Chile form (all competitions):

Team News

In their leg one defeat, Guarani played without Leonardo Rolon, who is recovering from torn knee ligaments, while Gaspar Servio was sidelined for that match with a cruciate ligament tear.

Mario Lopez will be suspended for this upcoming match after the Paraguayan defender was given a pair of cautions in the opening half in Santiago last week.

As for Universidad, Leandro Fernandez missed the first leg of this tie last Thursday with an ankle sprain, while Nicolas Ramirez was also out, having recently dealt with a shoulder injury.

Charles Aranguiz, Javier Altamirano, Lucas Assadi, Fabian Marcelo Hormazaba Berrios and Nicolas Guerra all found the back of the net for them in leg one, while Gabriel Castellon did not have to make a single stop to collect a clean sheet.

Guarani possible starting lineup:

M. Rodriguez; Riveros, Roman, Servin; Benitez, Manzur, Maiz, Mendieta, D. Fernandez; Torales, F. Fernandez

Universidad de Chile possible starting lineup:

Castellon; Hormazabal, Calderon, Zaldiva; Guerrero, Altimirano, Diaz, Poblete, Sepulveda; Contreras, Assadi

We say: Guarani 1-2 Universidad de Chile (Universidad de Chile advances 7-1 on aggregate)

Los Azules have never exited this competition when winning an opening leg fixture, and though the Paraguayans may put together a stronger effort at home, we believe the momentum of Universidad have at the moment will carry them to another win.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

Written by
Joel Lefevre

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