Delfin SC vs Caracas Predictions

Wednesday’s Copa Libertadores second round qualification, first leg clash sees Ecuadorians Delfin doing battle with Venezuelans Caracas. The hosts will be looking to open up an advantage ahead of the second leg.

Delfin certainly laid down a maker in the start of what’s only their second ever continental campaign. Far from a continental giant, Delfin only competed in the Libertadores for the first time last year and little was expected of them in it this season, but a 5-1 aggregate win over Paraguayans Nacional in the first round of qualification shows El Cetáceo mean business and confidence is now high coming into this tie.

Indeed, this is a tie the hosts have to be regarded as favourites in and if they can win it, they’ll find themselves within touching distance of the group stage. Having won 7 home matches in a row, scoring an average of 2.57 goals a game and conceding just twice in the process, Delfin certainly look like having the ability to put themselves in a commanding position on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Caracas find themselves back in the competition after a two year absence, courtesy of their 2nd placed finish on last season’s domestic aggregate table. Los Rojos de Avila are undoubtedly one of the strongest sides in the Venezuelan game but that fact doesn’t really count for much on the continental scene, given how badly outfits from the nation have fared within it in recent years.

Indeed, Caracas themselves have struggled heavily when they’ve been involved in Libertadores action and come into this one having lost 6 of their last 8 games in the competition. Having won their opening two games of the new domestic season, confidence is at least high in visiting ranks but those travelling for this one can be under no illusion as regards the difficulty of the task at hand.

Ultimately, over two legs we expect Delfin to have far too much quality/firepower for Caracas and the hosts should be able to advance from the tie with very few issues. On home soil in this one, they are huge favourites and it’s very hard to envisage them slipping up given how dominant they tend to be in front of the home crowd.

As far as the betting goes, we see great value on backing Delfin on the -1 handicap and that’s exactly where our money is going. Delfin have just blown away a stronger side than Caracas in Nacional and having won 3 of their last 4 home matches 3-0, that’s a scoreline we could well see repeated once again on Wednesday.