Junior vs Defensa y Justicia Predictions

Friday’s Copa Sudamericana quarter final, first leg action sees Colombians Junior going up against Argentines Defensa y Justicia. A close game is expected to be in order with both parties in good shape.

Despite having their 8 match unbeaten streak ended at the weekend via a 1-0 defeat at Atletico Nacional, spirits are high in Junior ranks and the side have been playing some good football in recent months. Comfortably inside the play-offs in the closing phase of the Colombian top flight, all is rosy for Los Tiburones on the domestic front but all focus is now on continental affairs; with the semi-final of the Sudamericana the only target.

Junior have done well to reach this point of the competition, seeing off Defensa’s compatriots Lanus and Colon, and whilst beating Argentine opponents will have confidence high coming into the tie, Defensa certainly rank as a step up in quality. Nonetheless, unbeaten in 11 home matches, 10 of which wins, Julio Comesaña’s troops will be hopeful of picking up a strong result to take with them to Florencio Varela for the second leg.

Meanwhile, Defensa’s overachieving is showing no sign of slowing down and despite their tiny size, they rank as one of the Argentine game’s strongest teams. Arguably the smallest team in the domestic top flight, Defensa’s long term strategy of sticking to a clear and defined, high intensity, attacking play style is certainly paying dividends, with El Halcon currently 4th in the Superliga Argentina and at the furthest point they’ve ever reached in continental competition.

Unbeaten in 10 matches and having won their last 4 outings to nil, Defensa certainly won’t be fazed by travelling to such a strong opponent and Sebastián Beccacece’s men will be hungry to build on wins over America de Cali, El Nacional and Banfield so far in the competition in order to reach the semi-final stage.

Ultimately, this looks a very difficult tie to call and whichever team advances will hold a big chance of eventually lifting the Sudamericana crown. Both teams are playing in a highly consistent, impressive manner and it really could go either way.

All things considered, we really like the look of backing the draw and feel it provides good value. Junior have an excellent home record, but are accustomed to visiting sides letting them dominate possession; something Defensa certainly will not be doing.

3 of Junior’s last 6 games have ended in draws, as have half of Defensa’s last 10 and with both teams rarely losing, a stalemate really does appear the only likely outcome. Defensa have kept a clean sheet in 6 of their last 7 matches and we fancy them to maintain that streak with a goalless 90 minutes on the cards, as two powerful outfits cancel each other out.