Vasco da Gama vs Racing Club Predictions, Betting Tips and Match Previews

Friday’s Copa Libertadores clash sees Brazilians Vasco playing host to Argentines Racing. An exciting game is expected as both sides chase the points.

It’s last chance saloon for Vasco, who sit bottom of Group 5 on a single point after 3 matches. Almirante first fell to a poor home defeat at the hands of Universidad de Chile prior to recording a solid point away at compatriots Cruzeiro, but a shocking 4-0 loss away at Racing last week has left them on the brink of elimination.

Vasco were totally blown away in Buenos Aires and despite creating a few openings on the counter, were lucky that the defeat wasn’t by a bigger margin, with goalkeeper Martin Silva also saving two penalties. Ze Ricardo’s troops are proving to be a very inconsistent outfit in 2018, on one hand showing enough quality to reach the Campeonato Paulista final and take 4 points from their opening two Serie A matches but on the other hands struggling greatly on the continental scene.

Meanwhile, visitors Racing have been impressive in the competition so far, racking up a 7 point total that has them top of the group. La Academia have been rampant on home soil, plunging in 8 goals over wins against Cruzeiro and Vasco, whilst also picking up a decent point away to Universidad in a 1-1 draw.

Under Eduardo Coudet and with the likes of Lisandro Lopez, Ricardo Centurion and Lautaro Martinez in their ranks, Racing are playing some of the most exciting football on the continent. On their own patch, this style of football has been highly successful with win after win collected, but results have been fairly mixed on the road, with the visitors picking up 3 wins, 3 draws and 2 losses as visitors so far in 2018.

What has remained consistent in Racing’s away games has been the amount of times both teams have got themselves on the scoresheet. 10 of the Argentines’ last 11 trips have remarkably ended with goals at both ends and that’s something that looks very likely here, considering how both teams will approach the game.

Vasco have no option but to chase the win, with their Libertadores life depending on it, whilst we can expect more of the same from Racing, with their high intensity, attacking strategy the only way they know how to play. Both teams have also scored in 6 of Vasco’s last 9 outings and should do so again, with a 2-2 draw looking to be on the cards.