Independiente del Valle vs Corinthians Predictions

Thursday’s Copa Sudamericana semi final, second leg clash sees Ecuadorians Independiente del Valle doing battle with Corinthians at the Estadio Olímpico Atahualpa. The hosts will be looking to see through their 2-0 win from last week’s first leg.

It’s fair to say Independiente del Valle caused a huge shock when they travelled to Sao Paulo last week and deservedly won 2-0, outplaying their Brazilian counterparts on the night. The Ecuadorians had looked big outsiders coming into this tie and whilst many felt if they kept things tight in the first leg they’d be in with half a chance on high altitude, home soil, few could have imagined them coming into the second leg 2-0 up.

Nonetheless, that’s exactly what Independiente del Valle are and they arrive for kick off with confidence sky high, in the midst of an excellent run of form. Indeed, the hosts have won 5 of their last 6 games, conceding just once in the process and those taking to the pitch will be confident in putting the club into yet another continental final, having famously finished runners-up in the Libertadores back in 2016.

Meanwhile, the first leg was a complete disaster as far as Corinthians are concerned and turned the side into a national laughing stock. Everyone in Brazil had expected them to record a substantial win to all but wrap the tie up prior to travelling to Quito but instead Fabio Carille’s troops arrive all but eliminated.

Indeed, though the side picked up a morale boosting 2-1 home win over Bahia at the weekend, you just can’t see a way back for them on Thursday. They’ve not won any of their last 4 away games and with this game set to be played at a 2,850m altitude that they aren’t used to, you can only picture them struggling against the home side once again.

Ultimately, we can’t imagine any way back for Corinthians and Independiente del Valle are all but into the final. The hosts are in excellent form and typically dominate when playing at home in continental competition; with visiting outfits finding the gruelling conditions too much to handle.

Indeed, Independiente del Valle have won their last 5 Copa Sudamericana home matches to nil and taking that into account, backing them to win on Thursday looks a good play at a generous price. The hosts were substantially better than Corinthians last week and we fancy them to get the better of them once again on Thursday, with a 1-0 margin of home victory on the cards.