Gremio vs Atletico Tucuman Predictions

Wednesday’s Copa Libertadores quarter final, second leg clash sees Gremio going head to head with Atletico Tucuman. The hosts hold a commanding 2-0 lead from the first leg and will be looking to advance into the semi-finals in style in front of the home crowd.

Gremio were the obvious favourites over two legs coming into this tie, but with Atletico a notoriously difficult team to travel to, the Brazilians did extremely well to take a 2-0 lead home with them. After winning the Libertadores last season and having kept the core of their side together, Arthur’s transfer to Barcelona aside, Tricolor look well placed to defend it from this point onwards.

Renato Gaucho’s men had been struggling for consistency earlier on in the year but now well in their stride, they’re also chasing the Serie A title on the domestic front, just 3 points short of leaders Palmeiras. 4 consecutive wins has confidence soaring in Gremio ranks and they bring great momentum with them into Wednesday’s clash, something they’ll be looking to continue with another strong showing.

Meanwhile, nobody expected Atletico Tucuman to reach this stage of the competition and they’ve done fantastically well to do so; but it does look like being the end of the road for them now, barring a miracle. To have any real chance of advancing, Atletico would have to have established a lead in their home leg and they now find themselves in a very difficult position.

Nonetheless, Atletico were playing in the second tier of Argentine football not too long ago and can be proud of they work they’ve done on a limited budget, particularly because Ricardo Zielinski also has the team standing 2nd in the Superliga Argentina at the time of writing. El Decano fans will still be travelling to Porto Alegre in hope of a miraculous turnaround but 6 defeats from the last 8 away in the Libertadores for Atletico hardly suggests one is forthcoming.

Ultimately, whilst we’re full of respect for the visitors and what they’ve done in the Libertadores this year, we feel you can all but right them off coming back against a Gremio outfit now in red-hot form and with a squad jam-packed with quality.

The likes of Luan and Everton make Gremio extremely potent and with Atletico forced to commit men to the attack and leave spaces at the back, you do have to fear for them in this one.

Overall, backing Gremio to clear the over 1.5 team total goal line looks an excellent way to play. The hosts have won their last 4 home matches whilst scoring a huge average of 2.75 goals a game and we fancy them to run out 2-0 winners on Wednesday, in keeping with both of said sequences.