Independiente Petrolero

vs

Racing Club

Preview

Independiente Petrolero (home)

• Independiente Petrolero are coming off a 0-0 home draw with Guabirá in their recent Sudamericana qualifier, a match they won on penalties to reach the group stages for the very first time.
• Jhohan Gutiérrez was the hero in that tense encounter.
• The hosts will sit deep and look to absorb pressure before hitting back on the counter.
• They will feel most comfortable at 2,800m above sea level of the Estadio Olímpico Patria, a venue where visiting teams find it hard to establish their rhythm.

Racing Club (away)

• Racing Club have won four of their last five matches in all competitions and conceded just one goal in that sequence.
• They are in the top half of Argentina’s Liga Profesional Zona B and showed their quality in a recent 2-0 victory where Adrián Martínez scored both goals.
• Injury to Gabriel Rojas, a vital creative force, could make this game a lot harder for them.

Key Players

• Jhohan Gutiérrez - was the penalty shootout hero for Petrolero.
• Adrián Martínez - scored both goals in Racing’s recent 2-0 win.
• Gabriel Rojas - his injury removes a key creative option for Racing.
• Rudy Cardozo and Jonathan Cristaldo - can provide creativity and experience for Petrolero.

Betting Insights

• Altitude and the home crowd make Petrolero a dangerous underdog, which is why we’re eyeing the higher odds available for the home side.
• Expect a low-scoring game given Racing’s defensive solidity.

Prediction

• We see Racing’s quality giving them the edge, but the high altitude will be tough for them to overcome.
• A tight, low-scoring affair is most likely.