Cruzeiro vs Racing Club Avellaneda Prediction & Betting Tips - Copa Libertadores

Prediction published on 21/05/2018, 19:20  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 23/05/2018 at 03:38 in Copa Libertadores Predictions

Both of these sides should reach the knock-out stages of the 2018 Copa Libertadores. Cruzerio start the final game of Group E in second place and are three points behind leaders Racing Club. Their goal difference is only two less than the group leaders so a two-goal victory will see them finish top. Only the top two qualify for the knock-out stages with the third ranked side going into the Copa Sudamericana. Cruzeiro are three points ahead of Universad de Chile who currently occupy that position but their goal diference is a massive 16 goals better, mainly due to the fact they beat the Chilean side 7-0 at home earlier in the group. Cruzeiro have won two, drawn two and lost one of their five group matches and are yet to concede at home having drawn their other game 0-0 with Vasco da Gama.  These two sides met in the group opener and it was Racing Club who ran out 4-2 winners thanks to a hat-trick by Lautaro Javier Martinez.  The home side had been on an unbeaten run of six league and cup games before losing 1-0 at Atletico Mineiro at the weekend and are currently 13th in Serie A. Home form has seen them lose one of their last 14 in all competitions with 12 clean sheets.

Racing Club lead the group by three points and avoiding defeat will keep them top. They are currently seeded fourth for the knock-out stages and a win could get them as high as second with Palmeiras already guaranteed top seeding. The side from Argentina are unbeaten in the group with three wins and two draws but both those stalemates were in their away games against the sides currently third and fourth in the group. They come into this game having lost two matches inside a week in the Superliga, in which they are currently seventh and Copa Argentina but before that had gone won five of their last six games, drawing the other. Their away form in this competition is dreadful though with no wins in the last ten compared to one loss in 11 at home. Go for Cruzeiro to get the home win in this match.