Deportes Tolima vs Internacional Predictions

• Tolima have scored an average of 2 goals a game over their last 4 home games.
• 2 of Tolima’s last 3 Libertadores home games have ended in score draws.
• Internacional are unbeaten in 4 away games; drawing the latter 2 of which.
• Internacional have scored at least once in 5 of their last 7 Libertadores away games.

Tolima looking to establish a lead

Tolima did well to see off Ecuadorians Macara to reach this point of the competition but they now face a huge challenge and will have to pull off a big upset if they are to reach the group stage proper. Indeed, they come into the tie as considerable underdogs and with an extremely tough away leg to come, they need a strong performance on Thursday.

Indeed, the Colombians are almost certain to lose to Internacional in Porto Alegre so they desperately need to make home advantage count in this first leg. Having scored an average of 2 goals a game over their last 4 home games, they’ll certainly be confident in giving the Brazilians something to think about and an aggressive showing is expected from them.

Internacional looking to assert their quality.

Meanwhile, Internacional comfortably got the better of Universidad de Chile to reach this point and are now fully expecting to go on and book their group stage place. On paper, Eduardo Coudet’s men are significantly stronger than Tolima and they’ll be looking to assert their superior quality on the tie.

Unbeaten in 4 away games, Inter have been strong on the road under Coudet so far and will be looking to take that into this trip; as avoiding defeat would leave them in a great position going into the second leg. Having also scored at least once in 5 of their last 7 Libertadores away games, Colorado can be confident in notching a vital away goal and will be aiming to do exactly that.

An open game is expected

Ultimately, although continental ties of this importance tend to be of tight nature, this one could well buck the trend. On home soil and as underdogs, Tolima simply have to play in an open manner whereas Internacional are not the type of side to sit back and will also be pushing men forward from the off.

All things considered, backing the Both Teams to Score line looks the best way to play as far as the betting is concerned and is something we’re more than happy to do. 2 of Tolima’s last 4 home games have ended in score draws, as have 2 of their last 3 Libertadores’ home games and we fancy both themes to continue via a 1-1 draw.