Needing a win to advance beyond the Copa Sudamericana round of 16 for the first time, Belgrano host Athletico Paranaense on Thursday at Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes in the second leg of that tie.
El Paranaense were able to erase an early deficit in the opening match between these two teams, claiming a 2-1 victory at Arena de Baixada.
Match preview
© Imago
Belgrano got the ideal start in leg one, going in front before the match was a minute old, but a defensive mix-up late in the opening half changed everything.
That was the first defeat for Juan Cruz Real's men in the Sudamericana this year and the third time they failed to win when being in a winning position.
El Celeste have never made it beyond the last 16 of this tournament, losing their only previous Sudamericana home fixture at this stage in 2016 2-1 to Coritiba and exiting that tie on penalties (6-4).
In that instance, they played at El Gigante de Alberdi, while they went unbeaten at Estadio Mario Kempes in the 2024 group stage of this competition, conceding once in those three fixtures.
The club from Cordoba have yet to make it beyond the last 16 of a major tournament since the 2016 Copa Argentina when they defeated Defensa y Justicia 2-1, making it all the way to the semi-finals that year.
They have not lost a Sudamericana affair at home versus Brazilian opposition, playing to a 0-0 draw with Internacional in the 2024 group phase.
© Imago
Despite falling behind in the early going of this tie last week, the Paranaense attack carried them through once again, ending a two-match losing run in this competition.
It was also the first time the club from Curitiba went on to win a match at the Sudamericana this year when conceding the opening goal.
Over the weekend, though, they saw their three-match unbeaten run in all competitions end, suffering a 2-1 defeat versus Juventude in the Brasileiro Serie A.
Martin Varini's men have a 100% record away from home at this tournament, outscoring their three group-stage opponents on their home field by a margin of 10-2.
The Brazilians have not lost a round of 16 contest in this competition since 2008, when Chivas beat them 4-3 at Arena de Baixada and advanced 6-5 on aggregate.
Furacao have only suffered one defeat versus an Argentine opponent at the Sudamericana, losing the second leg of their first-round tie with Newell's Old Boys in 2018 but advancing by an aggregate score of 4-2.
Team News
© Imago
Last Thursday, Belgrano played minus Matias Daniele due to a knee issue, Matias Marin sat out with a foot injury, while Ulises Sanchez and Lucas Passerini were sidelined because of cruciate ligament tears.
Franco Jara netted the opening goal in their defeat versus El Paranaense a week ago, his third at the Sudamericana over this campaign.
In the opening leg of this tie, Athletico were without Pablo, who may be a few weeks away from returning from a muscle strain, while Leo Linck returned from his ankle injury earlier than expected, playing the full match between the sticks.
Erick put his side on level terms with his first of the competition, while Christian netted the winner, his second in his last two Sudamericana encounters.
Belgrano possible starting lineup:
Chicco; Moreno, Rebola, Meriano; Barinaga, Longo, Quignon, Rolon, Reyna; Jara, Chavarria
Athletico Paranaense possible starting lineup:
Linck; Erick, Rocha, Heleno, Esquivel; Christian, Fernandinho, Ze Vitor; Cuello, Mastriani, Canobbio
We say: Belgrano 1-1 Athletico Paranaense (Athletico Paranaense advances 3-2 on aggregate)
Paranaense know how to handle the pressure of knockout games like this, and that experience should give them an edge in this decisive contest.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joel Lefevre
