Raphael Durand
Dailysports's expert
One of the fixtures of the 5th round of the Copa Libertadores will take place on Wednesday at the Castelao Stadium, where local side Fortaleza will host Colombian outfit Bucaramanga. I suggest betting on the outcome of this encounter, which offers promising odds for success.
Match preview
The team coached by Argentine Juan Pablo Vojvoda continues to impress both on the domestic stage and in international competitions, despite significant personnel losses. In their recent games, Fortaleza have delivered excellent results, winning two matches in a row after drawing the previous four. Notably, they demolished Juventude 5-0 and secured a convincing 4-0 win over Colo-Colo in the Copa Libertadores.
Currently, the club sits second in Group E with seven points — level with group leaders Racing. Despite their impressive form, the squad is suffering from the absence of several key players, including star defender David Luiz, who is still sidelined with a head injury. On the bright side, striker Deyverson has bolstered the attack, finding the net in the Libertadores and giving fans plenty of optimism.
Atlético Bucaramanga claimed a crucial 2-0 victory over Medellín in the league last weekend, boosting their confidence ahead of upcoming fixtures. However, the Leopards had previously struggled, failing to win in five consecutive matches (three losses and two draws).
Specifically, Bucaramanga were humbled at home by Racing in the Copa Libertadores, suffering a heavy 0-4 defeat. The Leopards now occupy third place in the group standings, collecting five points from four matches — two fewer than the joint leaders in Group E. In their last five away games, both teams have found the net, but Bucaramanga themselves have managed two wins alongside two defeats.
Probable lineups
- Fortaleza: Joao Ricardo, Tinga, Benjamín Kuscevic, Gustavo Mancha, Gabriel Avila, Matheus Rossetto, Lucas Sasha, Tomás Pochettino, Marinho, Juan Martín Lucero, Breno Lopes
- Atlético Bucaramanga: Álvaro Quintana, Andres Gutierrez, Cristian Eñao, Carlos Romana, Fabián Inestrosa, Cristian Londoño, Fabriano Gonzalez, Diego Chávez, Rubén Sambueza, Adalberto Peñaranda, John Vásquez
Match facts and head-to-head
- The first leg ended in a 1-1 draw
- The "Both teams to score" bet landed in one of Fortaleza's last five matches
- The "Over 2.5 goals" bet came through in two out of Fortaleza's last six games
Prediction
Bookmakers are backing the home side here, believing Fortaleza shouldn't face much trouble. The recommended bet is "Fortaleza to win with a -1.0 handicap" at odds of 1.84.
