Defensor Sporting vs Atletico Mineiro Predictions

Thursday’s Copa Libertadores final qualification round, first leg action sees Uruguayans Defensor Sporting doing battle with Brazilians Atletico Mineiro. The visitors will be looking to stamp their authority on a tie they’re expected to win comfortably.

Hosts Defensor Sporting are only through to this point of the competition courtesy of becoming the first beneficiaries of the farcical CONMEBOL eligibility show. Last season’s Libertadores, and Sudamericana, were ravaged by 3-0 walkovers and court claims and it doesn’t look like we’re set for change this year, with the Uruguayans having eliminated Barcelona SC, despite having been outclassed by the Ecuadorians and losing both legs against them.

Nonetheless, Defensor are now here and will be trying to squeeze their way into the group stage, a feat that’s going to require massive improvement to achieve, up against such a strong opponent. Taking their results against Barcelona as they actually finished, Defensor have now lost 4 consecutive matches and having conceded an average of 2 goals a game during them, confidence is clearly very low coming into this clash.

Meanwhile, Atletico Mineiro beat Danubio 5-4 on aggregate in the last round and will be hungry to see off one final Uruguayan challenge in order to make it into the group stage as expected. One of Brazil’s stronger outfits, making the group stage is a requirement, rather than a hope, and fans are hopeful of seeing Galo make a deep run in the competition this year.

Atletico have been in good form in the action we’ve seen so far in 2019 and as such, arrive in very confident mood. They’re now unbeaten in 7 matches, winning 5 times in the process and having scored a big average of 2.14 goals a game over said fixtures, the visitors certainly pack a punch going forward.

Ultimately, Defensor are contesting this tie thanks to a technicality rather than sporting merit, and you’d expect them to lose comfortably to a strong visiting side. Man for man, Atletico are far stronger than Defensor all over the pitch, and will be looking to prove that in what we see on the pitch.

All things considered, we’re more than happy to back an away win in this fixture with maximum confidence. Defensor have lost all 3 of their home games in 2019, and having struggled against Barcelona, they’re highly unlikely to be able to match Atletico Mineiro. The Brazilians are in good form, are scoring goals with ease and that leads us to believe they’ll run out comfortable 2-0 winners on the night.