Olimpia Asuncion vs Sporting Cristal Predictions

Thursday’s Copa Libertadores group stage action sees Paraguayans Olimpia doing battle with Peruvians Sporting Cristal. The hosts only need a point to secure top spot in the group but will be looking for victory in front of their own fans.

Having came into the competition off the back of being crowned Paraguayan champions last year, Olimpia were certainly confident of being a force in it and they certainly have been so far. After 5 matches, the side have 9 points and remain unbeaten, leaving them already assured of their place of last 16 and almost certain to finish as group winners.

It’s not just the continental stage on which Olimpia are shining either and they are a real force that looks a match for just about anyone; something more than apparent when taking into account they are unbeaten in a staggering 25 matches, of which they’ve won 17. Having also claimed victory in 5 straight home games, confidence is very high coming into Thursday’s game and those taking to the pitch will be desperate to keep the team’s momentum going.

Meanwhile, Sporting Cristal are all but out of the competition already and also look unlikely to salvage a Sudamericana place. The Peruvians need to try and win this game in the Paraguayan capital but all evidence would suggest that,that isn’t going to happen, considering they have just 4 points to their name and have already lost 3-0 on home soil to Olimpia earlier on in the group.

Without a win in 4 matches, Sporting Cristal are in poor form and arrive with little momentum behind them. Also hugely damaging for their spirits coming into the game is their simply terrible away record in the Libertadores, which has seen them lose their last 8 trips on the road in it, conceding a huge total of 30 goals in the process.

Ultimately, there can be absolutely no doubting who the favourites are to win this game and that’s Olimpia. Man for man, they are by far a stronger side than Sporting Cristal and in excellent form, they should have no trouble whatsoever in dispatching of the visitors.

All things considered, backing the hosts on the -1 handicap looks the best way to play as far as the betting is concerned and is exactly where our money is going. Olimpia have scored an average of 3 goals a game over their last 5 home matches and with that in mind, we can see them running out 3-0 winners over a visiting outfit they’ve already beaten by said margin and that leaks goals consistently when away from home in the competition.