Rooster seeks classification with a round to spare as Ecuadorians fight to continue with chances of advancing to the round of 16
In a little while, at 19:00 (Brasilia time), at Mineirão, the ball will roll to Atlético-MG and Independiente del Valle for the fifth round of Group D of the Copa Libertadores. Galo is the current leader of the group, with eight points and a victory is enough for the team to qualify for the round of 16. On the Ecuadorian side, the team is in third place, with five points and needs to win anyway to still dream about the classification.
Atlético’s two main absences are goalkeeper Everson (Covid-19) and left winger Keno (muscle injury). In goal, Rafael will win the spot. Mohamed’s headache is in relation to Keno, as the immediate replacement – Eduardo Vargas – is also in the medical department. Everything leads to believe that “El Turco” will climb Ademir and Hulk further on, with Nacho and Zaracho in the frame.
The Portuguese Renato Paiva cannot be on the edge of the lawn in the Libertadores games, as he does not have a license recognized by Conmebol. He will not be able to count on Faravelli (ankle) and Previtalli (knee), both with injuries. Independiente should maintain the three-quarter scheme, with Sornoza being the playmaking mechanism.
(1.30) Atlético-MG x Independiente del Valle (10.00); hunches and predictions
Both teams score (no): playing at home, Galo should have almost total dominance of the game’s offensive actions. Due to the need to win, he must press even more, making one of the most sought-after predictions of the game to be goals for only one of the teams.
More than 8.5 corners: technically superior and playing at home, Galo’s shooting rate should be relatively high, and with that, the game’s potential for corners is interesting, and the guess of 9 or more in the game total can give good return.
For Independiente del Valle to have more cards: playing away from home and with a more delicate situation in the group table, Independiente del Valle must adopt a firm stance, and with greater card potential in relation to Atlético-MG.
