River Plate take on the visitors Internacional in the first leg of Copa Libertadores 1/8-finals. The match will be played on Wednesday, August 2nd at Estadio Monumental (Buenos Aires).
River Plate are the current champion of Argentina in the current season and one of the main favorites in the Copa Libertadores. The team is having a fantastic season, winning the national championship with an 11-point lead over the closest competitor. In their league, under the guidance of Martin Demichelis, River Plate could afford to relax, and the head coach rotated the squad, occasionally giving rest to the key players. What am I leading to? In this round of 16 matchup in the Copa Libertadores, the "Millionaires" are the favorites and should secure a victory over Internacional in the two-legged tie, at least on their home ground. It's worth noting that River Plate won 12 out of 13 home matches in the Argentine championship.
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Internacional are not currently a powerhouse in Brazilian football. The "People's Club" is positioned in the bottom half of the national championship, sitting at 12th place. Unlike River Plate, who could conserve their energy before this match, for Mano Menezes' side, every match is a crucial battle. Yes, Internacional progressed from the group stage of the Copa Libertadores as the first-place team, but afterward, they played five matches in the Brazilian Serie A, and the results were not pleasing for their fans: three lackluster goalless draws and losses to Cuiabá (1-2) and Fluminense (0-2).
In this Argentine-Brazilian confrontation, I give preference to the "Millionaires." At the very least, River Plate should prevail over Internacional on their home turf, considering the challenging times the Brazilian side is going through. The current form of the Argentinians is better, and overall, they look much more impressive than their opponent throughout the season. Additionally, the match is played at home, and in the current season, River Plate has been outstanding in both the national championship and the Copa Libertadores. Internacional has been struggling to score goals lately (one goal in their last five matches). It's highly likely that the Brazilians won't find the net in Buenos Aires, and they will likely concede at least one goal from the hosts. The bet is on River Plate to win.
Prediction for the match: River Plate to win.
