Raphael Durand
Dailysports's expert
One of the matches of the 5th round of the Copa Sudamericana group stage will be played on Wednesday in Porto Alegre, where local side Gremio will host Godoy Cruz. I suggest betting on goals in this clash, as there are good chances for success.
Match preview
Gremio currently sits second in Group D of the Copa Sudamericana, but their recent performances have raised some concerns. Over their last nine matches, the Brazilian side has managed just one win, along with five draws and three defeats — clearly falling short of the club’s ambitions. Moreover, Gremio has struggled to convert chances in the first half, failing to score in the opening 45 minutes of their last three games.
Even the support of the home crowd hasn’t brought the desired results: in their last five matches across all competitions, Gremio has picked up only two wins and suffered one defeat. Notably, in their most recent home game, Gremio drew 1-1 with Bragantino. After eight rounds, the club is in 15th place in Serie A. Despite these numbers, Gremio still has an excellent chance to advance from their Copa Sudamericana group, as they are six points ahead of Grau, who are in third place.
Godoy Cruz comes into this match with a more positive mindset. The Argentinians confidently lead Group D thanks to three wins and a draw. Not only have they collected ten points, but they’ve also displayed impressive defensive organization, not conceding a single away goal in the Copa Sudamericana so far. This balance allows the Mendoza-based side to approach this tough away fixture with confidence.
Thomas Ortegón’s team heads into the clash with Gremio after a period of rest, as they failed to qualify for the Apertura playoffs. This gives them the ability to focus fully on their cup campaign. In their last away fixture, Godoy Cruz narrowly defeated Sportivo Luqueño (1-0) in the fourth round of the Copa Sudamericana. Their perfect away record and rock-solid defense offer hope for another strong performance and consolidation at the top of the group, which would grant them a direct spot in the round of 16.
Probable lineups
- Gremio: Volpi, Igor, Martins, Eli, Pedro, Ronald, Villasanti, Mila, Cristaldo, Pavon, Braithwaite
- Godoy Cruz: Petroli F., Arce L., Mendoza M., Rasmussen F., Meli A., Fernandez N., Poggi V., Abrego G., Barrea D., Pascual L
Match facts and head-to-head
- In the first round, Godoy Cruz drew 2-2 at home with Gremio
- The “Both teams to score” bet has landed in three of Gremio’s last five matches
- The “Both teams to score” bet has only landed in one of Godoy Cruz’s last five matches
Prediction
Bookmakers are giving clear advantage to Gremio in this match, with odds on their victory around 1.60. In the first meeting between these sides, Gremio was close to winning but conceded in the 87th minute. Here, I think it’s best to back “Total under 2.5” goals at odds of 1.60.
