Making their first-ever appearance in the quarter-finals of the Copa Sudamericana, Cruzeiro travel to Estadio Defensores del Chaco on Thursday to face Club Libertad in the opening leg of that tie.
The Paraguayans advanced from the previous round on penalties versus Sportivo Ameliano (4-3), with Celeste doing the same thing in their tie with Boca Juniors (5-4).
Match preview
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By the thinnest of margins, Libertad are through to the last eight of this tournament, advancing into this phase for the first time since 2021.
Since being relegated to this competition from the Copa Libertadores group stage, the Paraguayans are undefeated in four Sudamericana contests this year, though their only normal-time victory over that stretch came at home versus Universidad Catolica in the round of 32 (2-0).
Daniel Garnero's men have won three successive matches in all competitions, claiming a 2-1 victory over Cerro Porteno domestically on Saturday.
That victory was only their second one at home in their previous five competitive fixtures played at Estadio Defensores del Chaco.
Libertad have won their previous three quarter-final home fixtures at this tournament, failing to concede in any of those outings.
They have not won a Copa Sudamericana knockout contest at home versus a Brazilian opponent since defeating Santos 1-0 in the 2021 quarter-finals.
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Down a goal heading into their decisive fixture with Boca, Cruzeiro came out determined to turn that tie in their favour, scoring twice in 21 minutes at home.
Ultimately, a Miguel Merentiel miss for Boca Juniors in the shootout was enough to send the Belo Horizonte club into the next round.
Fernando Seabra's men have only won one of their previous four away matches at the Sudamericana this year, defeating Alianza 3-0 in the group phase last May.
Cruzeiro are winless in their last three matches across all competitions away from home, failing to score in two of those encounters.
When scoring first, they are undefeated in the Copa Sudamericana this season, though they have only done so once away from home.
Raposa have never won an away match at the Sudamericana versus a side from Paraguay, squandering a 1-0 lead and losing 2-1 to Club Nacional Asuncion in 2017 and exiting that tie on penalties (3-2).
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Team News
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Club Libertad were without Hector Villalba in their previous Sudamericana affair because of a cruciate ligament tear, while Ivan Ramirez, Alejandro Silva, Alvaro Campuzano and Ruben Lezcano were the newcomers who were not in the starting 11 in the opening leg of that tie.
Martin Silva kept Sportivio Ameliano off the scoresheet in normal time of that return engagement, while he saw three of the opposition's penalties sail over the bar, cancelling out the misses from his teammates Oscar Cardozo and Cristian Riveros.
Cruzeiro may be missing Rafael Silva for this encounter due to a knee issue, Alvaro Barreal is doubtful with a sore ankle, Juan Dinenno is recovering from an ACL injury and Japa is out because of a broken foot.
Matheus Henrique and Walace scored first-half goals in their second-leg tie with Boca Juniors, while they converted all five of their penalties to advance.
Club Libertad possible starting lineup:
M. Silva; Ramirez, Viera, Gimenez, Espinoza; A. Silva, Campuzano, Merlini; Fernandez, Cardozo, Melgarejo
Cruzeiro possible starting lineup:
Cassio; William, Ivaldo, Marcelo, Bruno; Henrique, Walace, Vitinho; Pereira; Dinenno, Diaz
We say: Club Libertad 0-0 Cruzeiro
It has not been an easy path to the quarter-finals for either side, and given Cruzeiro's inexperience at this stage, along with the lack of consistent quality from the home side, we expect chances will be at a premium for this opening fixture.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joel Lefevre
