Platense
- Platense boss Walter Zunino has turned his Platense side into an exciting, energetic and attacking team, and it may just be their cup of tea against a Penarol Montevideo team that are out of their depth in Copa Libertadores in 2026.
- The hosts’ style of play, a winged 4-4-2 system, will directly clash with Penarol’s compact, transition-based 4-2-3-1 that is so favoured by boss Diego Aguirre.
- For Platense, winger Guido Mainero has 2 Libertadores assists and is a creative and tricky presence in the final third, while Zunino’s system allows his players to really get after the ball.
- Mainero’s energy will suit the game plan of this clash, while forward Franco Zapiola has a Libertadores goal to his name and will be a good pick to score anytime on Thursday.
- Zunino’s philosophy of playing with a high tempo and pressing the ball has paid dividends for Platense in the early stages of the Copa Libertadores group stage.
- Platense are enjoying their debut Libertadores campaign, sitting second in the group after 3 games and their win at Penarol last time out gives them a psychological edge over their visitors.
- Platense have won once and lost once in 2 Libertadores home games, scoring 1.00 and conceding 1.50 goals per-game on average.
Penarol Montevideo
- Penarol Montevideo are bottom of Group E with 1 point from their 3 Libertadores games.
- Penarol Montevideo are no strangers to the Libertadores, but 2026 has not been a good year for them so far.
- Aguirre’s men have lost 4 of their last 5 games, including consecutive defeats in their two most recent games.
- They’re winless away from home in the Libertadores so far, drawing once and losing once, scoring just 1 goal in 2 games.
- There’s no denying that Penarol possess some real quality in their ranks, and striker Matias Arezo has 2 goals in 3 Libertadores games, but their form has been patchy of late.
Head-to-Head
- Platense beat Penarol Montevideo 2-1 away from home the last time the sides met in this group.
- Platense are second in Copa Libertadores Group E with 6 points after 3 games.
Key Players
- Guido Mainero
- For Platense, winger Guido Mainero has 2 Libertadores assists and is a creative and tricky presence in the final third, while Zunino’s system allows his players to really get after the ball.
- Franco Zapiola
- Mainero’s energy will suit the game plan of this clash, while forward Franco Zapiola has a Libertadores goal to his name and will be a good pick to score anytime on Thursday.
- Matias Arezo
- There’s no denying that Penarol possess some real quality in their ranks, and striker Matias Arezo has 2 goals in 3 Libertadores games, but their form has been patchy of late.
Betting Insights
We’re taking Platense to win a high-scoring matchup on Thursday , and are backing them to edge the odds at 2.12 , Over 2.5 goals at 2.51 , and Both Teams to Score - Yes at 2.1 .
Prediction
Platense are enjoying their debut Libertadores campaign, sitting second in the group after 3 games and their win at Penarol last time out gives them a psychological edge over their visitors.
