MX23RW : Thursday, May 6 22:59:29| >> :600:193792:193792:
May 5, 2021 at 11pm UK at Estadio General Rumiñahui del Valle de Los Chillos
IndependienteIndependiente del Valle
4-0
UniversitarioUniversitario
Sanchez (45+3', 73'), Murillo (61'), Ortiz (85')
Caicedo (33'), Landazuri (38')
FT(HT: 1-0)

Murrugarra (10'), Alexis Barreto Gamboa (23')

Preview: Independiente del Valle vs. Universitario - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Wednesday's Copa Libertadores clash between Independiente del Valle and Universitario, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Two sides who have yet to open their accounts in the Copa Libertadores group stages face each other in Quito on Wednesday night, when Independiente del Valle host Universitario.

Los Negriazules have conceded in each of their last seven games in all competitions, while the Peruvian visitors have conceded three times in both of their opening Group A matches.


Match preview

Independiente del Valle's Beder Caicedo celebrates scoring their fifth goal with teammates in September 2020© Reuters

Independiente del Valle's nine-game unbeaten run in all competitions was ended in dramatic fashion last Wednesday, when they were thrashed 5-0 away at Copa Libertadores holders Palmeiras last week.

The visitors dominated the game with 63% possession but they were caught out on several occasions, with the hosts taking advantage and cruising to a comfortable victory in Sao Paulo.

Since then, Renato Paiva's men were defeated 2-1 by Manta FC in the Ecuadorian Serie A, which now leaves them seven points behind league leaders Emelec with a game in hand.

Paiva will have been aware that the trip to Palmeiras would be their hardest encounter in Group A, however he would have been hoping to avoid such a heavy defeat.

Los Negriazules still have a good chance of progressing to the knockout stages of the Copa Libertadores and a victory on Wednesday could move them into the top two, if Defensa y Justicia were to lose to Palmeiras.

After conceding a 95th-minute strike to Palmeiras and losing their opening Copa Libertadores match in April, Universitario were defeated 3-0 in their second game away at Defensa y Justicia last week.

A brace from Walter Bou as well as a strike from Francisco Pizzini secured a comfortable victory for the Argentinian outfit and leaves Angel Comizzo's side at the foot of Group A.

Since then, Universitario have bounced back with a 2-1 win against Alianza Atletico in the Peruvian Primeira Division, which has moved them to within five points of the summit with a game in hand on league leaders Ayacucho.

Los Merengues have rarely progressed into the latter stages of the Copa Libertadores, reaching the final only once in their history, losing to Independiente back in 1972.

A victory on Wednesday would get their campaign back on track and would boost their hopes of progressing to the knockout stages for the second successive year.

Independiente del Valle Copa Libertadores form:
  • D
  • L

Independiente del Valle form (all competitions):
  • W
  • W
  • W
  • D
  • L
  • L

Universitario Copa Libertadores form:
  • L
  • L

Universitario form (all competitions):
  • L
  • W
  • L
  • L
  • L
  • W


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Team News

After conceding five goals last week against Palmeiras, Independiente del Valle may revert to a back three, which will likely include defenders Richard Schunke, William Pacho Tenorio and Luis Segovia.

Top goalscorer Brian Montenegro and forward Mateo Ortiz were both rested for Sunday's game but could start together in attack at the expense of Joffre Escobar and Jacob Murillo.

Universitario goalkeeper Aamet Calderon is set to miss the rest of the season with a ruptured Achilles tendon, while striker Alexander Succar had surgery on his Achilles tendon last month and is set for several weeks on the sidelines.

Defender Ivan Santillan, who has missed the last seven matches in all competitions, is also ruled out because of a knee injury.

Comizzo is not expected to make too many changes to his first XI but midfielder Jorge Torres could return to the side at the expense of Gerson Barreto.

Independiente del Valle possible starting lineup:
Ramirez; Schunke, Tenorio, Segovia; Cheme, Pellerano, Realpe, Faravelli, Guerrero; Montenegro, Ortiz

Universitario possible starting lineup:
Carvallo; Chavez, Alonso, Quina, Corzo; Alfageme, Torres; Quintero, Novick, Urruti; Gutierrez


SM words green background

We say: Independiente del Valle 3-1 Universitario

Both Independiente del Valle and Universitario have struggled defensively in recent weeks so Wednesday's encounter could see plenty of goalmouth action.

The two teams will be keen to get their Copa Libertadores campaigns back on track with a victory, but we feel that the hosts will respond from last week's thrashing by Palmeiras to secure all three points at the Estadio de Liga Deportiva Universitaria.



Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting under 3.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Under 3.5:data


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How you voted: Independiente vs Universitario

Independiente del Valle
63.6%
Draw
18.2%
Universitario
18.2%
11
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Boca Juniors manager Miguel Angel Russo pictured on January 2, 2021
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