Cerro Porteño vs Deportivo La Guairá
La Nueva Olla, Asunción, Paraguay
28/04/2021; 18:00 Paraguay (23:00 BST)
Group H, Game 2
Cerro Porteño go into the game two with the foundation of an impressive win against América de Cali in Colombia, they will be looking to double their points tally in what is on paper their easiest match to remain in control at the top of the group. Chiqui Arce will be hoping to maintain the azulgrana’s proud record against Venezuelan sides at home (W 8, D 3, L 0) but his opposite number Daniel Farías is no stranger to Asunción. He was César Farías’ assistant when the Venezuelan managed Cerro Porteño in 2016 for a few months.
Cerro Porteño wona tough game on Sunday evening against Guaireña as both teams tried to stay alive in the title race. Topscorer Robert Morales, who opened his Libertadores account against América de Cali, wasn’t in the matchday squad as a precauation but is expected to be included in the Libertadores lineup. Against América de Cali we saw Chiqui Arce play with one striker and allow the opponent to have the ball and they effectively picked them off on the counter attack with faster wide players. However, you would imagine with this being a home game El Ciclón will play their more typical possession style. Goalkeeper Jean, who won Man of the Match last week, is likely to continue as the Copa goalkeeper after an eventful weekend in Ciudad del Este (he is ineligible for the local league) picking up a fine from the traffic police on the journey!
Deportivo La Guairá drew their opening match against Atlético Mineiro before drawing 0-0 at the weekend to record their third successive tie since resuming competition this year. That domestic game saw six changes (including a debut for 16-year-old Kervin Andrade) from the grand Libertadores result as Farías clearly wants to prioritize the continental competition. Venezuelan football expert and author Jordan Florit spoke about Deportivo La Guairá recently on Guaraní Vision and noted that one of the players to watch out for is “tidy central midfielder” Carlos Cermeño now 25 years old who previously played in the MLS for Dallas and was pinched from rivals Deportivo Táchira at the start of the year.
Prediction: 1-0 maybe some early struggles to break down the opposition but Cerro Porteño should have enough to record their second win.
Cerro Porteño XI (possible): Jean; Alberto Espínola, Alexis Duarte, Juan Patiño, Santiago Arzamendia; Enzo Giménez, Ángel Lucena, Mathías Villasanti, Claudio Aquino; Mauro Boselli, Roberto Morales
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Stats and Facts
Cerro Porteño vs Venezuelan opposition overall (Copa Libertadores)
Pld 22 W 14 D 5 L 3 GF 44 GA 21
Cerro’s biggest win was a 6-0 away win against Caracas FC in 1995 with Héctor Núñez and Lilio Torales scoring hattricks.
Cerro Porteño at home vs Venezuelan opposition (Copa Libertadores)
Pld 11 W 8 D 3 L 0 GF 23 GA 10
Their record at La Olla is W 5 D1 with Nelson Haedo the topscorer (4 goals) followed by Santiago Salced (3 goals in one game)
Cerro Porteño in Asunción (Copa Libertadores)
Pld 175 W 85 D 55 L 35 GF 268 GA 177
Their first game in Asunción against Venezuelan opposition was a 1-0 win over Deportivo Italia (now Deportivo Petaré) on 31st March 1969. Severiano Irala scored the only goal of the game.
Cerro Porteño recent home record (Copa Libertadores)
Pld 6 W 4 D 1 L 1 GF 9 GA 7
Looking only at group stages games and the record improves to W 5 D 1 the only tie being 0-0 to defending champions Gremio in 2018, in fact their last defeat was back in 2013 against Independiente de Santa Fe.
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