CD El Nacional vs CA Nacional Potosi Prediction & Betting Tips - Copa Libertadores

Prediction published on 14/02/2023, 15:19  by Kennedy Kechula in Copa Libertadores Predictions

El Nacional from Ecuador will on Thursday host the return leg of their first-round Copa Libertadores qualifier with Bolivia’s Nacional Potosi. The Ecuadorian side won 6-1 in the first leg in Bolivia and only a catastrophic performance in front of their own fans will see them fail to reach the second round where Colombia’s Independiente Medellin awaits. That match in La Paz last week was Nacional’s first of the season and first in the Copa Libertadores since 2017. Six of the game’s seven goals were scored in an explosive first half that also saw four players booked, two from each team. Midfielder Jorge Ordonez was the only player to score more than one goal with his two strikes. Before the first leg, Nacional’s last match was in November. They could be without Jefferson Valverde for this return fixture after the forward came off injured in the first match.

Nacional Potosi are making their debut in South America’s premier club competition and they will remember this feat for all the wrong reasons. Potosi were outplayed from the first whistle and conceded just after five minutes. In the first quarter of an hour, they were already 3-0 down which seemingly ended it being a contest. The disappointing loss came just four days after they had begun their league season with a 3-0 defeat away to Oriente Petrolero. After those two huge defeats, Potosi bounced back last time out with a convincing 3-0 victory at home against Blooming. The damage in the first leg seems irreversible but Potosi will be hoping to at least put up a better showing than they did at home. They will rely heavily on striker Martin Prost who scored in the first leg match and is already on two goals having netted in the win over Blooming.