Defensor Sporting vs Barcelona Guayaquil Predictions

Wednesday’s Copa Libertadores second round qualification, first leg clash sees Uruguayans Defensor Sporting doing battle with Ecuadorians Barcelona SC. An exciting game with plenty of action at both ends of the pitch is expected to be in order.

Defensor Sporting did very well to come through their first round qualification tie against Bolivar, even if they did it in unconventional fashion. Going into said tie they looked almost certain to lose the away leg at gruelling altitude, but they instead won it 4-2 prior to almost throwing it away on home soil last week, losing 3-2.

Nonetheless, the Uruguayans are one step closer to reaching the group stages they were knocked out of in last season’s competition, but yet another stern test lies in their path in this tie and improvement on a run that now reads 5 defeats from their last 7 matches going back to the end of last year will have to be found if they are to have any hope of advancing.

Meanwhile, visitors Barcelona have plenty of pedigree in the Libertadores, having made an impressive run to the semi-finals in 2017 before losing to eventual winners Gremio, but the side missed out on a place in the competition all together last year and make their return in this clash.

Barcelona didn’t really end 2018 in sparkling form, finishing 5th in the closing phase of domestic action, but are still one of Ecuadorian football’s stronger sides and have some talented players within their ranks. Having lost just 2 of their last 8 Copa Libertadores away games, Los Toreros have historically been able to handle themselves on the road in the competition and that’s a theme those taking to the pitch will be desperate to continue on Wednesday.

Ultimately, whilst Libertadores qualification ties tend to be low scoring, tight affairs given what’s at stake, this particular one looks set to be far more exciting and both legs should be good watches for the neutral. Both sides are far stronger offensively than defensively and neither have it in their nature to sit back and defend.

Backing both teams to find the net looks to provide excellent value at current odds and said market is exactly where our money is going. 8 of Defensor’s last 9 matches have seen both sides score, alongside an average of 3.77 goals per game being on display and with 3 of Barcelona’s last 4 matches also having seen goals at either end, we think a high scoring 2-2 draw could well be on the cards.