Defensa y Justicia vs Santos Predictions

• Defensa y Justicia are unbeaten in 9 matches.
• Both teams have scored in 4 of Defensa’s last 6 games.
• Santos scored an average of 1.57 goals a game in last season’s Serie A campaign.
• Santos have won just 1 of their last 6 away games.

Defensa looking to rise to the occasion

It’ll be a special night in Florencio Varela, as Defensa y Justicia take to the field in the Copa Libertadores for the first time ever. Traditionally a small, lower division club, the side have punched well above their weight in recent years with an attacking style of play and booked their Libertadores place after finishing as runners-up in last season’s Superliga Argentina.

Currently 9th in the Argentine top flight with one match left to play, Defensa have put in another decent campaign and their recent performances have been highly impressive. Indeed, a 1-1 draw at leaders River showed the strength of El Halcon and has them coming into Tuesday’s fixture an impressive 9 matches unbeaten; of which they’ve won 5.

Santos looking to start with a win

Meanwhile, Santos were an extremely exciting outfit to watch last term under Jorge Sampaoli, playing with an aggressive style and finishing the season in 2nd place. The Argentine has now left Peixe but Jesualdo Ferreira has come in and will be looking to continue his good work with what is a talented group of players.

Ferreira has come under some early pressure after some inconsistent showings in the State League but Santos were unlucky not to beat rivals Palmeiras at the weekend and will certainly fancy their chances in Buenos Aires. Indeed, with Olimpia and Delfin the other two sides in the group, the Brazilians are the clear favourites to win it and will be itching to get off to a good start towards doing exactly that.

Plenty of action is expected

Ultimately, whilst Santos are clearly the bigger name and the slightly stronger of the two on paper, we think Defensa will give them a good match in what should be an exciting 90 minutes. The Argentines are in excellent shape and it should be a very open game between two attack-minded outfits.

All things considered, given the plethora of attacking talent on the pitch, backing the Both Teams to Score line simply has to be the way to play and is something we’re more than happy to do. 4 of Defensa’s last 6 games have seen goals at both ends and we fancy that theme to continue, with a 1-1 draw on the cards.