Paraguay’s Club Olimpia host Brazil’s Internacional on Thursday in the Copa Libertadores round of 16 first leg. The two sides are aiming for a place in the quarterfinals of the tournament against either Defensa y Justicia or Flamengo.
Olimpia and Internacional played against each other in the group stage. The two South American rivals were pitted against each other in the round of 16 due to the Copa Libertadores seeding and selection process for the knockout stage.
Internacional topped Group B with 10 points from 18 on offer. They scored 12 goals while conceding five times to opponents in six games. Olimpia Asuncion finished second in Group B with nine points from 18 on offer.
Olimpia finished level on points with Deportivo Tachira but claimed second place courtesy of a –1-goal difference. Sergio Orteman’s team were outscored in Group B 14-13. Their games were incredibly high scoring and Olimpia’s defensive frailties were shown.
Internacional won both matches during the Copa Libertadores group stage versus Olimpia. They outscored Olimpia 7-1 over the course of 180 minutes. Olimpia kept the scoreline low at home with Internacional winning 1-0. The reverse fixture saw Interacional win 6-1.
Olimpia right-back Sergio Otalvaro will miss the first leg of the match versus Internacional after being sent off in the team’s final group stage game versus Deportivo Tachira.
Orteman is likely to play a 4-4-2 formation which worked much better in the team’s 1-0 loss to Internacional in the group stage than their 6-1 defeat. Former Bayern Munich and Manchester City forward Roque Santa Cruz could start in attack for Olimpia.
Internacional forward Paolo Guerrero is ruled out with a knee injury. Meanwhile, Abel Hernandez has a heel issue. Mauricio is suffering from a sprained ankle, Ze Gabriel has a thigh strain, and Rodrigo Moledo is suffering from a knee problem. All three are ruled out of the match.
The Reds are in the middle of the Serie A season. They have played 11 matches in Serie A already and should outplay Olimpia in the Copa Libertadores first leg thanks to having better form.
Internacional leading scorer Edenilson has tallied five goals in Serie A this season and will be the team’s dangerman. He is the only Internacional player to tally more than one goal in Serie A this term. Thiago Galhardo leads Internacional in goals in the Copa Libertadores with four goals.
Internacional should claim a win this week in the Copa Libertadores with both sides scoring and over 2.5 goals tallied.
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