Racing Club vs Rionegro Aguilas Predictions, Betting Tips and Match Previews

Racing will have to make do with playing in the Sudamericana this year, after two consecutive years of Libertadores football. None the less, boss Diego Cocca has stated he sees his side “fighting for the title” before going on to add that “it is always an honour to participate in a continental competition”.

Cocca is back for his second stint at the club, replacing Ricardo Zielinski. Zielinski left the club after a matter of months, with fans struggling to take his rigid style of play and the results it brought. He left them in a poor position, 10th out of 30 teams, with a record of 6-3-5.  Cocca will be confident in turning things around, in his last spell he won 40 of his 69 games in charge, leading La Academia to a 2014 league title. Performances already look to have improved in the friendlies contested prior to this tie. Racing have played 7 of them and remain undefeated. That run includes a 3-0 drubbing over arch enemy Independiente, so they should be coming into the game with a degree of confidence.

Rionegro Aguilas have only been competing under said name for a year. Founded in 2008, the side have a short but controversial history. A series of name changes and disputes have seen them relocate to the city of Rionegro, and for now that’s where they stay. Despite their short history, they have competed in the Sudamericana in three of the last four years, only missing out on last year’s edition.

Unlike Racing, Aguilas have been back in competitive action since the turn of the year. It’s been an uninspiring start to the domestic campaign. Four draws, three of which ended 0-0 and a 3-0 defeat at Atletico Nacional. Their first goal of the season came last Thursday, in a 1-1 draw at Envigado. Aguilas are now without a win in eight if you go back to the end of last year, and have only scored two meagre goals in the process.

Racing are clear and comfortable favourites with the bookies. You have to agree with that, there are signs the old Racing are returning under Cocca and it would be a major surprise if they slipped up on home soil here. Cocca has made his intention clear, through his press conference and his strength of squad for the game, they are going all out for the Sudamericana this year.

He’s also stated the importance of keeping a clean sheet in the build up to the game, and we believe they can do exactly that against their shot shy opponents. The Estadio Presidente Juan Domingo Perón will be rocking as always, and the home crowd will be excited to see the first competitive outing back under Cocca. We believe they can put the tie to bed here in a 3-0 win. Racing should have far too much quality for the out of sorts visitors.