Montevideo City Torque vs Deportivo Riestra: prediction, H2H and probable lineups — 20.05.2026
Montevideo City Torque
Deportivo Riestra
One of the highlight matches of the 5th round in the Copa Sudamericana group stage will take place this Wednesday at the legendary Centenario Stadium in Montevideo, where Montevideo City Torque will host Argentina's Deportivo Riestra. Here’s my take on the goals market for this clash: the hosts are cruising through the group, while the visitors are extremely limited up front and look especially toothless away from home.
Match preview
Montevideo City Torque enter this game as group leaders: three wins in four rounds have given the Uruguayans a solid cushion heading into the decisive stretch. Yes, they recently lost 1-2 to Nacional in the league, but in the Copa Sudamericana they look much more focused — in the last round, they beat Palestino 1-0 and once again showed their ability to control matches through discipline and tempo.
Marcelo Méndez’s side isn’t always consistent in terms of results, but their attacking potential is clearly higher than their opponent’s: 27 goals in 19 matches this season is a testament to their functional structure up front. At the same time, on the continental stage, the "Citizens" have become more pragmatic: less risk, more midfield control, and an emphasis on rapid transitions involving Rodríguez, Obregón, and Lecchini.
Deportivo Riestra are enduring a tough season and arrive in Montevideo with a major issue — they can barely score. Seven goals in 20 matches across all competitions is a dismal return at this level, and recent results — a 0-3 loss to Grêmio, a goalless draw with Lanús, and a 0-1 defeat to Grêmio again — show just how difficult it is for the Argentinians to create chances against well-organized teams.
That said, Riestra have already beaten Montevideo City Torque 2-1 in the reverse fixture, so the visitors know how to neutralize the Uruguayans’ strengths. However, Guillermo Duró’s squad have gone 12 matches on the road without a win, and under these circumstances, their approach will almost certainly be ultra-cautious: tight defensive lines, minimal space between the units, and a focus on rare set-piece opportunities.
Probable lineups
- Montevideo City Torque: Tornascioli, Romero, Silvera Paz, Pizzichillo, Kagelmacher, Agüero, Montes, Kochubinski, Rodríguez, Lecchini, Obregón.
- Deportivo Riestra: Arce, Goitia, Miño, Paz, Randazzo, Bracamonte, Monje, Watson, Gonzalo, Stringa, Díaz.
Match facts and head to head
- Montevideo City Torque have won three of their four group stage matches and lead their section.
- Deportivo Riestra have scored just seven goals in 20 matches this season and are winless in their last 12 away games.
- The only previous meeting between these teams ended in a 2-1 win for Riestra, but that match was played in Argentina.
Prediction
Montevideo City Torque are in a comfortable position in the standings and know that a win would almost guarantee their spot in the next round. There’s no reason for the hosts to turn this match into chaos: against a side with such limited attacking ability, it makes sense to take the initiative but avoid unnecessary risks at the back.
Riestra will fight for a result, but their attacking ceiling is simply too low right now. Even if the Argentinians withstand the pressure and keep the contest alive until late on, creating many chances at the Centenario will be a massive challenge. The most likely scenario is a match dominated by the hosts without a true exchange of goals.
