Preview: Colo-Colo vs. River Plate – Forecast, Squad Updates, Lineups – Brazilian Serie A Preview: Colo-Colo vs. River Plate – Forecast, Squad Updates, Lineups – Brazilian Serie A
Preview: Colo-Colo vs. River Plate – Forecast, Squad Updates, Lineups – Brazilian Serie A

September 15, 2024

Preview: Colo-Colo vs. River Plate – Forecast, Squad Updates, Lineups – Brazilian Serie A

The Copa Libertadores quarter-finals kick off on Tuesday, with Colo-Colo facing River Plate in the first leg of their highly anticipated clash at Estadio Monumental David Arellano. Both teams will be eager to gain an early advantage as they aim to secure a spot in the semi-finals of South America’s most prestigious club tournament. With the passionate Chilean crowd expected to fill the stadium, the stage is set for an intense battle between two historic teams.

Colo-Colo booked their place in the quarter-finals with two closely contested victories over Junior in the round of 16, winning 3-1 on aggregate. The Chilean side edged out their opponents with one-goal margins, showcasing their ability to handle pressure in critical moments. River Plate faced a similar challenge in their round of 16 tie against Talleres Cordoba, emerging victorious by the same aggregate score. Both teams have shown resilience in tight matches, setting the tone for a competitive quarter-final showdown.

Reaching the knockout phase marked a significant achievement for Colo-Colo, but they entered this stage on shaky ground, having gone winless in five straight matches across all competitions. This slump was far from ideal for Jorge Almirón’s side as they made their first Copa Libertadores knockout appearance since 2018. Despite the poor form leading up to this point, Colo-Colo managed to grind out two crucial victories, including their first away win of the tournament, a 2-1 triumph that provided a much-needed confidence boost.

Despite their earlier struggles, Colo-Colo has been a fortress at home, stringing together seven consecutive victories at Estadio Monumental David Arellano across all competitions. Their strong form on home soil will be a crucial factor on Tuesday, as they look to extend this streak and build a lead before heading to Argentina for the second leg. The team has thrived in front of their passionate supporters, and they will be counting on that energy to carry them through.

This quarter-final match presents Colo-Colo with an opportunity to achieve a milestone they haven’t reached in over two decades: a Libertadores quarter-final victory. They last won at this competition stage in 1997, when they defeated Universidad Católica 3-1 and advanced 4-3 on aggregate. As they prepare to face River Plate, the Chilean side will aim to break their long quarter-final drought and take a significant step toward the semi-finals.

However, Colo-Colo has yet to score in the quarter-finals this century, losing both legs to Palmeiras in 2018.

Eterno Campeón also faces the risk of back-to-back competitive losses for the first time since April of this year (three straight defeats).

In the round of 16, the Argentines faced stiff resistance from a solid defensive side but managed to preserve their unbeaten run in this year’s Copa Libertadores.

Marcelo Gallardo’s squad has now won their last four matches in the tournament and remains unbeaten in their previous nine games across all competitions.

This week, they return to the Libertadores quarter-finals for the first time since 2021, though they haven’t progressed past this stage since reaching the semi-finals in 2020. 

Three of River Plate’s victories this year’s competition have come away from home, including a 1-0 win against Talleres Cordoba in the last round.

Los Millonarios have won their last four Copa Libertadores meetings against Colo-Colo and remain unbeaten at home against the Chilean side in this competition, including a dominant 4-0 victory in 2022.

On Tuesday, colo-Colo will likely be without midfielder Vicente Pizarro as he recovers from a broken jaw. Cesar Fuentes is still a few weeks away from full recovery after suffering a cruciate ligament tear in March.

Last month, goals from Lucas Cepeda and Maximiliano Falcón secured Los Albos’ progression to this stage of the Copa Libertadores.

Rodrigo Aliendro is expected to miss action for River Plate until late October due to a shoulder injury. Pity Martínez is targeting a mid-November return from a cruciate ligament tear.

In their second-leg match against Talleres Cordoba, goals from Miguel Borja and Santiago Simón sealed River Plate’s place in the quarter-finals, after having been eliminated in the round of 16 in both 2022 and 2023.

Colo-Colo’s potential starting lineup:

Cortes; Isla, Amor, Falcón, Wiemberg; Vidal, Pavez; Paiva, Palacios, Cepeda; Correa.

River Plate’s possible starting XI: Armani; Bustos, Pezzella, P. Diaz, E. Diaz; Simon, Fernandez, Aliendro; Echeverri, Borja, Meza.

Prediction: Colo-Colo 0-1 River Plate.

River Plate have shown resilience when playing in hostile environments, and we expect their disciplined defense and patient approach to frustrate Colo-Colo.

The Chilean side will likely push hard for a home advantage before heading to Argentina, which could leave them vulnerable and allow River Plate to capitalize and steal a narrow win.

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Katarzyna Nowak

Katarzyna Nowak is a seasoned writer with over five years of experience in editorial content, news reporting, and football sportsbook app reviews. As an author for Football News Today, she combines her deep understanding of the sports betting industry with a passion for football, delivering insightful and accurate content that keeps readers informed and engaged.