River Plate (Argentina) vs Independiente del Valle (Ecuador)
River Plate are very close to securing a place in the Copa Libertadores round of 16 following their impressive 3-2 away win over Barcelona SC. El Millonario now lead Group B with eight points and have two remaining home matches to try and clinch the top spot. On Monday, Marcelo Gallardo’s men defeated Barracas Central 3-0 at home to advance to the quarterfinals of the Torneo Apertura. River are unbeaten in their last 15 matches across all competitions (eight wins and seven draws in regular time). Seven of those games were at home, where they recorded four wins and three draws.
Independiente del Valle earned a valuable point on the road last week, drawing 1-1 in an intense away match against Universitario de Deportes. The team now sits on five points after four games in Group B of the Copa Libertadores and controls its own destiny in the race for a spot in the round of 16. This past Sunday, they secured a 2-1 away win over Técnico Universitario to remain second in Ecuador’s LigaPro with 24 points from 12 matches—just one behind Barcelona SC. Independiente have lost only once in their last nine official matches (six wins and two draws) and have picked up ten of the last 12 available points on the road.
River are in top form, playing high level football and with big confidence. They will secure the 1st place of the group with a win here and although I expect them to get it, I’ll go with the OVER. In their last 6 games they scored 2 or more goals, but also in 5 of their last 7 they conceded at least once, so I think we should have at least 3 here.