Millionarios vs Independiente Predictions, Betting Tips and Match Previews

Friday’s Copa Libertadores crunch clash sees Colombians Millonarios hosting Argentines Independiente. The home side will be looking to make full use of the match being played at high altitude.

Rock bottom of the group with a trip to Corinthians to come, it certainly looks like last chance saloon for Millonarios. El Azul fell to a shock defeat to Venezuelans CD Lara last time out in continental action, leaving themselves on 4 points, 2 shy of Lara and Independiente themselves.

Nonetheless, with all 4 of those points having came on home soil, Miguel Angel Russo’s troops will arrive confident of securing a result. Russo’s ill health at the start of 2018 made it a difficult start to the campaign for Millonarios, partly why they missed out on the domestic playoffs, alongside wretched away from, but with 5 straight wins in front of the home crowd behind them, those that take to the field certainly have plenty of momentum behind them coming into this clash.

Meanwhile, as reigning Sudamericana champions, Independiente were hoping to challenge for the Libertadores crown this season but still have significant work to do if they are to reach the last 16. Ariel Holan’s men kicked their campaign off with a defeat at Lara and also lost at home to Corinthians, but wins over the Brazilians and their opponents here has the Argentines just inside the top two, somewhere they’ll be looking to remain at the end of the night.

Nonetheless, the visitors prospects don’t look the best, with morale low after a 1-0 defeat away to Union in domestic action costing El Rojo a top 5 finish in the domestic table. The side have been very inconsistent in recent weeks and their chances coming into this trip are further diminished by injuries to two of their key players, in the form of attacking midfielder Maxi Meza and first choice forward Leandro Fernandez.

The absence of Meza in particular is a huge one and the visitors really do look like facing an uphill battle against the gruelling 2,650 metre altitude and the passionate home crowd.

Millonarios have been red-hot as hosts in recent outings and we fancy them to pick up the three points, making backing the home win the way to play. Independiente have lost 3 of their last 6 fixtures 1-0, and could well do so again, with that looking the most likely scoreline come full time in Bogota.

Millonarios possible starting XI: Faríñez; Palacios, Cadavid, de los Santos, Banguero; Duque, Domínguez, Rojas; Salazar, del Valle, Quiñones.

Independiente possible starting XI: Campaña; Figal, Franco, Amorebieta, Silva; Domingo, Rodríguez; Romero, Benítez, Verón; Gigliotti/