Atlético Nacional vs Club Libertad Prediction & Betting Tips - Copa Libertadores

Prediction published on 12/04/2021, 03:06  by Nella Wagah | Modified on 12/04/2021 at 03:09 in Copa Libertadores Predictions

Another thrilling encounter pitting Colombian side Atletico Nacional at home to Paraguayan club Libertad is here, with a very slim margin defining the tie going to the return leg of the third round Copa Libertadores clash. Hosts Nacional trail 1-0 from the first leg, after Cristian Baez’s 78th minute goal gave Libertad the narrow lead. This match is a repeat of last season’s third round meeting, which ended 1-0 for the home side but Libertad won on post match penalties. Nacional are coming from a loss to Deportivo Cali in the domestic league, making it two losses in a row and have also failed to score in the two, but will hope this doesn’t happen in the Libertadores game. With three losses in the last four matches, Nacional are clearly walking a tight rope and head to a game they need at least two goals to see off the tie but they’ve scored more than one goal in just one of the last five matches. At home they are good though; five straight wins, with three goals or more in four places them well ahead of this clash. They’ve had meetings with Libertad in the past two seasons and in the last five meetings, each side has two wins in regular time. A man to watch for Nacional will be Jarlan Junior Escalona, who has already bagged nine goals this season.

Libertad will be hoping to hold on their slim advantage at a very tough venue to play. They warmed up for this game with a 2-1 win over fifth placed Guairena in the Paraguayan league, and stayed top of the standings with that result. With a good run, having won three and lost once in their last five matches, they’ll feel ready for this game. They need a draw of any kind to advance to the group stages and having scored in four of their last five matches, they have the needed quality to go even for a win. A win in the tie will see Libertad advance to Group F, where Nacional (Uruguay), Universidad Catolica (Chile) and Argentinos Juniors (Argentina) await. They aren’t badly off away from home either, with two straight wins, and three in five, with three clean sheets. They got to the quarters last season, though lost 4-1 on aggregate to eventual winners, Palmeiras. In the last round Libertad eliminated Ecuador’s Universidad Catolica 3-2 on aggregate with Carlos Ferreira’s brace in the 2-2 home draw making a massive difference. A top player to watch on Libertad’s side will be Oscar Cardozo; the former Benfica man has already notched five goals.