In need of a victory to keep their Copa Sudamericana hopes alive, Estudiantes host Corinthians on Tuesday in the second leg of that quarter-final tie from Estadio Jorge Luis Hirschi.
Timao remained unbeaten since entering the knockout stage of this competition from the Copa Libertadores, claiming a 1-0 victory in the opening leg last week.
Match preview
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For the second time in this tournament's knockout stage, Los Pincharratas find themselves behind after the opening leg, managing just a single effort on target against the Brazilians last Tuesday.
The previous time they were in this position, the four-time Copa Libertadores champions rose to the occasion, evening their tie with Barcelona after six minutes in the return leg and pouring it on from there, coming away with a 4-0 victory and advancing beyond that round of 32 clash, 5-2 on aggregate.
Historically, Estudiantes have not lost to a Brazilian club at home in this competition since 2008 (1-0 loss to Internacional), conceding only once in four previous meetings, while they have a 100% record versus Brasileiro Serie A sides in the knockout stage of the Sudamericana.
Eduardo Dominguez's men come into this encounter on quite the roll at Estadio Jorge Luis Hirschi, unbeaten in their last 17 matches played there in all competitions.
They have not conceded a goal in their last four competitive home fixtures, outscoring their opponents 11-0 over that stretch, winning three of their four Sudamericana matches played in La Plata by a 4-0 score.
Estudiantes conceded three times to Union in their previous domestic home fixture, allowing as many goals in that encounter as they had given up in their previous eight matches played at Estadio Jorge Luis Hirschi in all competitions before that defeat on Saturday (3-1).
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Another virtually flawless defensive outing by Corinthians last week has them on the cusp of the semi-finals as they picked up their third clean sheet of this tournament, conceding just a single effort on target to the Argentines.
That was the second time in this year's competition that Time do Povo have beaten a side from Argentina in normal time, having never earned a 90-minute triumph versus Argentine opponents at the Sudamericana before this season.
With a win or draw on Tuesday, Vanderlei Luxemburgo's men would earn a place in the semi-finals, which, if successful, would be their first appearance at that stage of the Sudamericana since 2019.
If past history, though, has taught them anything, it would be not to be complacent heading into this decisive game, seeing as Corinthians entered their 2005 second-leg quarter-final match versus Mexican side UNAM in front, only to be knocked out with a 3-0 defeat in the return engagement.
Time do Povo are winless in five successive away matches in all competitions but have only lost once over that stretch (2-0 at Sao Paulo in the Copa do Brasil).
Corinthians have only conceded two goals in five Sudamericana matches this year and have not trailed for longer than 12 minutes, when they came back to score a pair of second-half strikes, defeating Newell's Old Boys 2-1 in the round of 16.
Team News
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Guido Carrillo is not expected to feature on Tuesday for Estudiantes due to a muscle injury, while Zaid Romero and Emmanuel Mas are dealing with ankle issues.
We saw a few new faces in their starting 11 last week against the Brazilians when compared to the opening lineup they had the previous time they played a Sudamericana match, with Eros Mancuso, Mauro Boselli and Jose Sosa replacing Nicolas Fernandez, Gaston Benedetti and Mauro Mendez.
In their previous home game at the Sudamericana, the Argentines exploded for three goals in the second half against Goias, with Guido Carrillo scoring the winner before Benjamin Rollheiser had a brace and Mariano Andujar made one stop for a clean sheet.
Fagner may be available for Corinthians on Tuesday despite previously missing time with a calf strain, while Roni is not expected to return from his ankle injury until mid-September.
Luxemburgo had a very different-looking side in the opening leg of this tie from the one he put out in their last round of 16 clash with Newell's, as Gil, Bruno Mendez, Maycon and Yuri Alberto were the only players to maintain their place in the starting 11 for both encounters.
A 17th-minute strike from Gil in the opening match of this tie was all Timao would need to come away with the victory, as Cassio only had to make one stop for his second successive clean sheet in this competition.
Estudiantes possible starting lineup:
Andujar; Godoy, Nunez, Lollo, Mancuso; Zapiola, Ascacibar, Zuqui; Rollheiser; Mendez, Boselli
Corinthians possible starting lineup:
Cassio; Mendez, Gil, Murillo, Bidu; Maycon, Oliveira, Augusto; Romero, Alberto, Silva
We say: Estudiantes 1-1 Corinthians (Corinthians advance 2-1 on aggregate)
Estudiantes have proven they can score in bunches at home, but the defensive shape and organisation of Corinthians makes it difficult for us to believe the Argentines will be able to overturn their current deficit.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
