With two games remaining in the group stage of the 2022 Copa Libertadores, Caracas have a chance to leapfrog The Strongest for second place in Group B when they host the Bolivians on Tuesday at Estadio Olimpico de la UCV.
The Venezuelans are unbeaten at home in this year's competition and have not conceded in their two group fixtures in Caracas, while The Strongest are coming off an impressive 5-0 triumph over the reigning Copa Sudamericana champions, Athletico Paranaense.
Match preview
After four matches in the premier club competition in South America, Caracas have given themselves a chance to do something that no team from Venezuela have done since 2009, qualify for the second phase of this tournament.
Los Rojos del Avila were the last side from the Bolivarian Republic to make it to the Round of 16, and if they want a shot at returning to that stage, there is no room for error, as only three points currently separate first-place Libertad from Athletico Paranaense at the bottom of the standings.
Should they manage to collect three points on Tuesday, it would be their highest tally to a group stage campaign since 2011, when they finished third, a point behind Velez Sarsfield for a spot in the last 16.
Under the leadership of manager Francesco Stifano, a former player who grew up in the Venezuelan capital, they have been a tough side to penetrate on home soil, collecting three clean sheets in their previous four matches played in all competitions.
The most successful side in the history of Venezuelan football have had a challenging beginning to their domestic campaign, currently in fifth, a point back of Zamora FC for third.
Caracas will come into this contest with plenty of momentum, unbeaten in six successive fixtures in all competitions.
They have not lost a match when scoring first since conceding two late goals to Junior FC in the Second Round of qualifying for last season's Copa Libertadores.
Heading into the homestretch of the round-robin portion of this showcase event, the fate of Christian Diaz and his side will be in their own hands, as they are currently holding onto second place thanks to a superior goal difference.
That 5-0 victory in their previous encounter could prove decisive in their quest to qualify for the knockout stage for the first time since 2017, as those five goals are the only thing separating them from Caracas, who are third.
They exceeded their goal output from the 2021 tournament in one game, and they look a lot more determined than a year ago when they finished last in their group, tallying only four times while conceding 14 goals.
If they could choose an ideal situation for their final two group encounters, playing them on the road would not be at the top of their list.
The Bolivians have struggled away from home with only one victory in their previous six matches in all competitions, failing to score in three of those games.
Tigre may be in control of their destiny heading into this encounter, although they could have put themselves in a much stronger position, as they allowed an 83rd-minute equaliser at home to Caracas back on April 27 in a game where they had eight shots on target and 69% of the possession, but could only manage a 1-1 draw.
The team from La Paz have fared well against Venezuelan opponents in this event, with points in five of their seven fixtures, as their last defeat came in 2016, 2-1 to Trujillanos FC.
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Team News
Samson Akinyoola leads Caracas in goals at this tournament with two, having tallied the lone strike to defeat Libertad 1-0, while Saul Guarirapa picked up an assist on that play and Alain Baroja made four saves to collect his second clean sheet of the competition.
On Friday, Miguel Celis scored the only goal in their 1-0 victory against Mineros de Guayana, extending their unbeaten run in the league to four consecutive games.
He is one of three players on this side to have at least one assist in the Libertadores this year along with Guarirapa and Eduardo Fereira.
Stifano has gone with the same starting 11 in their previous two group fixtures, and that continuity has served them well.
Fereira, Carlos Rivero, Rubert Quijada and Daniel Rivillo have formed a solid back four, having played together in defence in their last two games in this competition.
Martin Prost and Enrique Triverio lead the Bolivians in scoring with four goals so far at this tournament, while goalkeeper Guillermo Viscarra only had to face one shot in their lopsided victory over Athletico Paranaense in early May.
Johan Gutierrez replaced Viscarra in goal over the weekend versus Guabira and was aided by a fine defensive performance from his back four of Saul Torres, Ismael Benegas, Adrian Jusino and Jaime Villamil, who collectively only conceded two efforts on target.
Fernando Saucedo is tied with Triverio for the team lead in assists at this tournament with two, one ahead of Luciano Ursino, who set up their fourth goal against El Paranaense from Juan Cascini.
Caracas possible starting lineup:
Baroja; Fereira, Rivero, Quijada, Rivillo; E. Castillo, Suarez; Rodriguez, Carmona, Guarirapa; Akinyoola
The Strongest possible starting lineup:
Viscarra; Torres, G. Castillo, Jusino, Aponte; Ursino, Saucedo, Vaca, Camacho; Prost, Triverio
We say: Caracas 1-1 The Strongest
Having a shot at qualifying for the knockout stage of this competition is an unfamiliar feeling for both Caracas and The Strongest, so we anticipate a nervy affair given what is at stake.
Experience would favour the Bolivians, though Los Rojos del Avila have been stellar defensively on their home field, so expect to see a stalemate when these two sides face off on Tuesday.
For additional data used by our team to analyse our suggested result please click here.
Top tip
Joel Lefevre
