Olimpia vs Independiente del Valle Predictions, Betting Tips and Match Previews

Independiente del Valle shocked the entire continent last year as they knocked out Argentinian giants Boca and River Plate en route to an historic final in the Copa Libertadores. This is a huge achievement for a tiny Ecuadorian club who were languishing down in the third division up until about a decade ago.

With their in demand manager moving on to none other than Olimpia Asuncion and nine of the 11 players that started that Copa Libertadores final being sold on, not many were expecting more heroics from the Ecuadorians. However, they managed a 1-0 win at home to Olimpia last week and will now hope to hang on to the lead and continue in the tournament.

Olimpia followed that 1-0 defeat with a 3-0 win away from home in their league opener though, and they have only lost one of their last 21 home games in all competitions. 18 of these games have ended in victory, and many of them have been more than comprehensive margins of victory as well.

The hosts’ Copa Libertadores record on home soil isn’t too shabby either. They have lost just three of their 17 home matches in the Copa Libertadores and have won 12 of them. This includes seven wins from their last eight matches too, so the visitors will be very wary.

Independiente del Valle also managed a weekend victory as they beat Deportivo Cuenca 1-0 in their Ecuador Primera A opener. This takes them to six matches unbeaten in all competitions, although away from home they have lost ten of their last 15 games in all competitions.

In the Copa Libertadores they have only won four of their 13 matches away from home, despite their excellent run last season, and eight of those 13 games have ended in defeat.

Olimpia’s attacking play on home soil has proven to be incredible. They have scored at least two goals in 17 of their last 21 home games in all competitions and in 13 of their last 14 in the Copa Libertadores.

It might be true that Independiente del Valle will be sitting back here, but I don’t think they can contain Olimpia again. In all honesty they were lucky to keep a clean sheet last week, so odds of 10/11 for Olimpia Over 1.5 Team Goals look good value for money. I’m going for that along with a 3-1 correct score predictions at 11/1.