Atletico Tucuman vs El Nacional Predictions, Betting Tips and Match Previews

Atletico Tucuman rounded off their recent meteoric rise last season by qualifying for their first ever Copa Libertadores campaign. In just 2008 they were playing in the third tier of Argentinian football, and after two consecutive promotions they have managed to build themselves up to be a top flight force.

They did go through a few tough spells last season, but their two wins and four draws in their final six games in all competitions was enough to see them claim 3rd position in the table, five points ahead of Defensa y Justicia and subsequently qualifying for this round of the Copa Libertadores.

At home Atletico Tucuman have struggled to seal victories though, drawing five and winning one of their last six games in all competitions and prior to that winning just one of five. This could be an issue in continental football where teams really need to make the most of the home leg of the tie.

El Nacional, unlike their opponents, are no strangers to the Copa Libertadores. They finished 3rd in the Ecuador Primera A last season to get to this stage of the tournament, making this their fourth qualification in the last ten years. Their last appearance was in 2012 when they went out in the first round against Libertad.

Whilst El Nacional may be more versed in the workings of continental football, they don’t often do very well in the competition. They have lost seven of their last ten matches in the Copa Libertadores and have only won once in that period. Away from home they have never won a match, losing nine and drawing two of their 11 games.

Their poor away form doesn’t end in the Copa Libertadores either. They have won just one of their last 14 away days in all competitions and lost six of them. They may be a constant presence domestically, but they are some way off the likes of Barcelona and Emelec.

There has generally been a lot of goals when El Nacional play away from home in this competition. They have seen at least three goals in seven of their last nine away days in the Copa Libertadores, and in all competitions nine of their last 16 away days have been high scoring affairs thanks to their shoddy defensive work. This makes odds of 5/4 for Over 2.5 Goals look a good bet, so I’m backing that along with a 3-1 win for Atletico Tucuman at 14/1.