Independiente and Deportivo Lara meet at Estadio Libertadores de América, in a match for this phase of the Copa Libertadores (Group Stage). In this game the home factor may be decisive, since both teams present considerable differences in the results achieved at home and as a visitor.
Independiente:
The home team is currently in the 2 nd position, with 7 points won, after 2 wins, 1 draw and 2 losses. In the penultimate match, they won in an away match against Corinthians, by (1-2). In the last match, they tied in an away match against Millonarios, by (1-1). This is a team that, oddly enough, has had better results in away matches than at home, since in the last 30 matches they register 7 wins, 5 draws and 3 losses in away matches; against 7 wins, 3 draws and 5 losses at their stadium. In the last 10 home matches Independiente has won 4, tied 2 and lost 4. The team has conceded goals in 4 of the last 5 matches for this competition, so it has not been very strong defensively. In their away matches there is a tendency for few goals, since 20 of the last 48 matches have ended with Under 1,5 goals and 35 out of 48 have ended with Under 2,5 goals. In 15 games, he suffered the first goal 6 times and never got the comeback.
The Independiente is one of the most traditional soccer clubs in Argentina, since throughout its history it won the Argentine Championship for fourteen times, the most recent title being that of the 2002/03 season (Apertura). In the current season, the team finished the Argentine Championship within the qualifying zone for the Copa Sudamericana, two points behind the fourth classified, the Hurricane, while in the Copa Libertadores it continues fighting to get a place in the next phase of the main South American competition. In the five games that the Independiente played for the Copa Libertadores this year, at least three scored goals. We believe that in this match the Independiente will be able to be superior to Deportivo Lara during practically the whole match, much because of the fragility of the visiting team, but also because of the need of the Argentine club to win this match.
Lara:
The away team is currently in the 3 rd position, with 6 points won, after 2 wins and 3 losses. In the penultimate match, they won in a home match against Millonarios, by (2-1). In the last match, they lost in a home match against Corinthians, by (2-7). This is a team that usually makes good use of the home advantage, stronger with the help of its supporters, since in the last 30 matches they register 4 wins, 5 draws and 6 losses in away matches; against 8 wins, 3 draws and 4 losses at their stadium. The team comes to this match after a win away with the Metropolitanos by (0-2). In the last 10 away matches Deportivo Lara has won 2, tied 4 and lost 4. Defensive consistency has not been their best feature, as they have conceded goals in 4 of the last 5 matches for this competition. . In 15 games, he never got the comeback in the 6 games in which he suffered the first goal. There are 2 periods that stand out in the last 11 away matches for all competitions: he scored 3 of his 8 goals between the minutes (61′-75 ‘); He suffered 5 of his 13 goals between the minutes (76’-90 ‘).
Deportivo Lara is a Venezuelan club that was Venezuelan champion only once, in the 2011/12 season. Deportivo Lara never won the Copa Libertadores and currently, in the 2018 season, it is the sixth place in the Venezuelan championship. In the group stage of the Copa Libertadores is the third classified, with real chances of classification, but has a very difficult mission, to beat the Independiente in Argentina. We believe that Deportivo Lara will have great difficulties against the Independiente and will hardly win this match. As the Independiente has a great tradition in the Copa Libertadores, Deportivo Lara will probably lose.
PREDICTION: Over 2.5 goals @ 1.70
