Royal Pari FC vs Monagas Predictions

Thursday’s Copa Sudamericana first round, first leg action sees Bolivians Royal Pari doing battle with Monagas. The hosts will be looking to make home advantage count in what is their first ever match in continental competition, against a Monagas outing hoping their continental campaign is more successful this year than it was last..

It’ll be a special night at the Estadio Ramón Aguilera Costas, as Royal Pari take to the pitch in a continental competition for the first time ever. Los Inmobiliarios are a club of next to no pedigree, even domestically, having only been promoted to the Bolivian top flight for the first time in 2017, but now they find themselves firmly in the big time.

Royal Pari qualified for the Sudamericana courtesy of finishing 3rd in the closing phase of last season and despite their small club status, they performed in a very impressive manner. Having won 13 of their last 18 home games, the hosts are certainly strong on home soil and that will have confidence extremely high coming into this game.

Meanwhile, Venezuelans Monagas competed in the Libertadores last season but will be hoping their participation in this year’s Sudamericana is a more successful one. Los Guerreros del Guarapiche struggled heavily and were simply outclassed, taking just 3 points and conceding a huge 14 goals from just 6 games.

Over two legs, Monagas have a reasonable chance of advancing from this tie but going any further than that looks a big ask, given the weak domestic scene they come from. Nonetheless, securing a result in this away leg is of real importance and having conceded twice in each of their last 4 away games, they’ll have to tighten up defensively if they are to do so.

Ultimately, it’d be a huge surprise if either side make any real waves in the competition but this a tie both we feel they can win. It’s likely to be settled by whichever team can best use their home advantage and that means the pressure is more on Royal Pari on Thursday night.

Nonetheless, we believe the hosts have enough about them to win the match and backing the home win looks to be a good way to play. They’re a very powerful team in front of their own fans and with Monagas far from defensively solid on their travels, a 2-0 Royal Pari margin of victory could well be on the cards.