Match Overview

The decisive second leg of the Copa Libertadores 2025 Round of 16 clash between Argentina’s River Plate and Paraguay’s Libertad is set to take place on August 22 at the iconic Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires. The first leg concluded with a goalless draw, 0-0. This highly anticipated encounter will offer insights into predictions, betting odds, and key statistics.

River Plate’s Current Form

Under the guidance of Marcelo Gallardo, River Plate secured a 0-0 draw in the initial away fixture against Libertad, extending their unbeaten streak in the Copa Libertadores to eight matches (comprising 3 wins and 5 draws). Notably, this was only the second instance in the current tournament where the team failed to find the back of the net. To advance to the next round, River Plate must secure a victory in this home tie. It’s worth highlighting that in their last eight seasons in the Copa Libertadores, the Argentinian giants have been eliminated before the quarter-final stage on only two occasions.

River Plate Key Statistics

• The team has remained undefeated in regular time in their last 17 home matches in the Copa Libertadores (13 wins, 4 draws).
• They have kept a clean sheet for 90 minutes in 6 of their previous 9 home fixtures in this competition.
• The Argentinian side has scored precisely 1 or 2 goals in regular time in 9 of their last 12 home encounters in the Copa Libertadores.

River Plate Provisional Lineup (4-4-2)*

Franco Armani – Gonzalo Montiel, Paulo Diaz, Sebastian Boselli, Marcos Acuña – Kevin Castaño, Enzo Perez, Matias Galarza, Santiago Lencinas – Miguel Borja, Facundo Colidio.

Defender Lucas Martinez Quarta and forward Maximiliano Salas are currently sidelined due to injuries.

Libertad’s Recent Performance

Following their draw in the first leg, Sergio Aquino’s side extended their winless streak in the Copa Libertadores to five matches (4 draws, 1 loss). Furthermore, Libertad has failed to score in three of these recent encounters. To progress to the next round of the playoffs, the club must win within 90 minutes; in the event of a draw, extra time will be played. It’s important to note that the Paraguayan team has not reached the quarter-finals of the Copa Libertadores since the 2019/20 season.

Libertad Key Statistics

• The team has not secured a victory in regular time in 6 of their last 7 away matches in the Copa Libertadores (3 draws, 3 losses).
• At least one team failed to score within 90 minutes in 5 of their previous 7 away games in this tournament.
• The Paraguayan side has conceded exactly 1 or 2 goals in regular time in 6 of their last 8 away matches in the Copa Libertadores.

Libertad Provisional Lineup (4-5-1)*

Martin Silva – Robert Rojas, Diego Viera, Nestor Jimenez, Ivan Ramirez – Hugo Fernandez, Alvaro Campuzano, Lorenzo Melgarejo, Lucas Sanabria, Ivan Franco – Gustavo Aguilar.

Midfielder Hugo Fernandez is unavailable for this match due to suspension.

Match Prediction: River Plate vs Libertad

The Argentinian side demonstrates strong confidence and consistently achieves favorable results on home soil in international competitions. However, River Plate tends to adopt a cautious approach once they gain a lead, opting not to take excessive risks. Consequently, they frequently limit themselves to scoring two goals; in their last 12 home matches in the Copa Libertadores, they have exceeded this mark only once.

While Libertad’s away record might not be stellar, the club is known for effectively restricting their opponents’ scoring opportunities. In their last 13 away fixtures in the Copa Libertadores, they have not conceded more than two goals, and remarkably, they managed to keep a clean sheet in three of those matches. Furthermore, in their previous Copa Libertadores campaign, Libertad conceded only two goals against River Plate when playing at the Monumental Stadium.

Final Betting Tip

I believe Libertad possesses the defensive capability to contain River Plate’s attack and prevent them from scoring more than two goals. My prediction is: “River Plate Individual Total Under 2.5 Goals” with odds of 1.55

Prediction by Dmitry Shchurko

Disclaimer

* The starting lineup provided for each team reflects their formation in their last match in this tournament.