Deportes Tolima
- Deportes Tolima are the group leaders because of their unbeaten home record (W1, D1).
- The home team have been rock-solid at the back in the two Libertadores matches at Estadio Manuel Murillo Toro, where they have conceded 0 goals in two matches.
- Lucas Gonzalez’s team are well-disciplined and organised, with a 4-2-3-1 system based around midfield control and measured possession play with a creative #10 and a pair of inverted wide players to create chances.
Club Nacional de Montevideo
- Club Nacional de Montevideo are second with the opposite record on the road (D1, L1).
- They line up in a 3-5-2 shape and deploy their wing-backs to provide width and quick transition play with a compact defensive unit and direct attacking play, as we saw in their last away Copa Libertadores game - a 4-2 defeat to Universitario de Deportes.
- Bava’s team have won two and lost three of their last five games and are currently on a two-game losing streak, so they will need to turn it around if they are to take all three points on Thursday.
Head-to-Head
- Deportes Tolima top Copa Libertadores Group B with 4 points from 3 games, 1 win and 1 draw at home.
- Club Nacional de Montevideo is second in the group on 4 points after 3 matches, 1 draw and 1 loss away.
Key Players
- Playmaker Brayan Rovira has chipped in with 1 goal in 3 Copa Libertadores games for Tolima and adds some of the creativity and penetration that Tolima need from midfield,
- The Colombian marksman has scored 4 of Tolima’s last 9 goals, giving them a clinical edge up top that Nacional have not managed to acquire, although Maximiliano Gomez is in good form, having notched three goals in his last five appearances and two in Copa Libertadores.
Betting Insights
The home side also overcame Coquimbo Unido 3-0 in their most recent Libertadores home match and look more than likely to grab all the points on Thursday, so we are going for a Deportes Tolima win at 2.11 , Over 2.5 goals at 2.38 and Both Teams to Score - No at 1.73 .
