River Plate vs Velez Sarsfield Prediction & Tips
River Plate and Vélez Sarsfield face off at the Estadio 20 de Octubre, in a second leg match of this phase of the CONMEBOL Libertadores (Round of 16), after Vélez Sarsfield won at home (1-0) in the first leg. The record of recent direct confrontations between the two teams couldn’t be more balanced, since there were 2 victories for each team in the last 4 times they met. In this match, the home advantage could play a decisive role, as Vélez have been showing differences in performance in their home and away games.
The home team arrives to this 2nd leg with a 1 goal disadvantage, besides the disadvantage of not having scored away in the first leg. This is a team that doesn’t suffer much from home conditions, that is, they have similar results at home and away, since in the last 30 games they have 8 wins, 2 draws and 5 defeats as visitor, with 25 goals scored and 12 suffered; against 9 wins, 3 draws and 3 defeats in their home stadium, with 41 goals scored and 15 suffered. In the last game they played, for the Primera División, they lost with Huracán away by (3-2). In the last 10 home games River Plate has 6 wins, 2 draws and 2 losses. Their attack has been scoring with regularity, as they have scored in 6 of the last 7 games for this competition. In their home games there is a tendency to score, as 44 of their last 51 games have ended with more than 1.5 goals and 34 out of 51 have ended with more than 2.5 goals. In 15 games played, they have never managed to turn the scoreboard around in the 5 games in which they have conceded the first goal.
River Plate requires a high level of concentration, commitment and technical quality, after all, the Millonario club needs to beat Vélez Sarsfield by a two-goal difference to guarantee qualification for the next phase of the competition. The team must adopt a propositive stance, investing in ball possession, coupled with an organized midfield to dictate the pace of the match, in addition to ensuring a quick transition between the defensive system and the attack in order to overcome the opponent’s defense and make the shot. The club also needs an attentive and dedicated defence, which maintains a strong marking so as not to concede goals.
The visiting team has a 1 goal advantage in this second leg match, but they conceded 0 goals at home in the first leg. This is a home team, stronger when they play with the support of their fans, since in the last 30 games they have 2 wins, 6 draws and 7 losses as visitors, with a total of 12 goals scored and 21 suffered; against 7 wins, 4 draws and 4 losses in their home ground, with a total of 24 goals scored and 12 suffered. In the last game they played, for the Primera División, they lost against Atlético Tucumán at home by (0-1). In the last 10 visiting matches Vélez has won 2, tied 5 and lost 3. The team has allowed goals to the opponent in 5 of the last 7 matches, so it hasn’t shown great defensive solidity, but its attack has scored regularly, since it has always scored at least one goal in the last 7 matches for this competition. In 15 games, it has only managed 2 comebacks in the 7 games in which it has conceded the first goal.
Vélez Sarsfield needs a draw to advance to the next stage in the Copa Libertadores, however, the team doesn’t want to take any risks and should try to control the match, even for playing away from their stadium. The club needs possession of the ball, tactical discipline and organization in the midfield, trying to impose itself physically to not give River Plate opportunities, besides advancing with speed through the sides to try the cross in the opponent’s area and score the goal. On the defensive side, it requires a close and intense marking to stop the opponent’s advances and ensure they do not concede goals.
River Plate – Velez Sarsfield FREE TIPS
OVER 2.5 GOALS @ 2.25
