Brazilian hosts, Athletico PR, will be keen to ensure they do a professional job against their Colombian visitors, America de Cali, when the two teams meet in this 2nd leg of their round of 16 Copa Sudamericana tie at the Arena da Baixada on Tuesday night.
Despite some ordinary recent results on the domestic front in the Brazilian Serie A which have seen Athletico PR stumble to defeats against Santos and Ceara (both away from home), the hosts recorded what could prove to be a vital 1-0 win away from home in the 1st leg of this Sudamericana clash.
Results overall actually haven’t been too bad for Athletico PR as Tuesday night’s hosts have suffered just three defeats out of their last 19 matches in all competitions, with all three losses being incurred away from home.
On home soil, Athletico PR are unbeaten in their last nine games overall, winning six of these nine games and keeping clean sheets in five of these nine games as well, while also winning their last 10 Copa Sudamericana ties on the trot at home too.
America de Cali therefore look to have their work cut out as the Colombian visitors prepare for this tough looking assignment at the Arena da Baixada on Tuesday night especially as they find themselves trailing 1-0 to their hosts after last week’s 1st leg defeat at the Estadio Olímpico Pascual Guerrero.
America de Cali finished in 3rd place in Group H in the Copa Libertadores behind Atletico Mineiro and Cerro Porteno, which means they’ve now dropped down to the knockout rounds of the Copa Sudamericana.
However, America de Cali have struggled for consistent results of late with the visitors picking up just two wins out of their last 10 matches in all competitions, both of which were at home with wins against Deportivo La Guaira in the Copa Libertadores and a domestic Primera A victory over Junior.
Six defeats within this 10-match sequence though suggest this upcoming 2nd leg tie in Brazil on Tuesday night could be beyond America de Cali, especially as the visitors have lost three of their last four ties at this level as well.
America de Cali have won just one of their previous five away ties in the Sudamericana while Athletico PR have been solid at home along with keeping clean sheets on a regular basis, so a low-scoring home win looks to be on the cards here.