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Nacional and Deportivo Tachira will battle for three points in a Copa Libertadores group-stage fixture on Wednesday.
The hosts are coming off a comfortable 6-2 thrashing of Rampla Juniors at the same venue in the Uruguayan Primera Division over the weekend. Alexis Castro's first-half brace and Jeremia Recoba's 13th-minute strike gave them a 3-0 lead at the break. Maurico Pereyra, Ruben Bentancourt and Diego Zabala added second-half strikes while Isaac Mendez and Diego Rosa scored consolation goals for the visitors.
Deportivo Tachira, meanwhile, suffered a 1-0 defeat away to La Guaira in the Venezuelan Liga Futve. Edder Farias broke the deadlock for the hosts in the 32nd minute while Carlos Sosa missed an opportunity to draw the game level from the spot just past the hour-mark.
The Aurinegro will turn their attention to the continent and will be keen to bounce back from the debilitating 3-0 defeat they suffered away to Libertad Asuncion in the Libertadores a fortnight ago. Nacional suffered a 2-0 defeat away to River Plate.
The loss left the Montevideo outfit in third spot in Group H, having garnered three points from two games. Tachira are bottom on zero points.
Nacional vs Tachira Head-to-Head and Key Numbers
- The two sides were paired in the 2004 Copa Libertadores round of 16. Deportivo Tachira qualified with a 5-2 aggregate victory.
- Eleven of Tachira's last 12 games across competitions have produced less than three goals.
- Nacional have won four of their last five competitive games (one loss).
- Tachira have lost four of their last five games (one win).
- Tachira's last six games have seen one side keep a clean sheet.
- Nacional are unbeaten in their last eight home games across competitions (seven wins).
Nacional vs Tachira Prediction
Nacional are likely to battle it out with Libertad for second spot in this group and the results in their double-header against Tachira could be crucial to their hopes.
Tachira have struggled for positive results in the last few months and this is reflected in the Libertadores, where they are just one of three sides yet to score after three games.
Nacional are heavy favorites and we are backing the hosts to claim a narrow victory in addition to a clean sheet.
Prediction: Nacional 1-0 Tachira
Nacional vs Tachira Betting Tips
Tip 1 - Nacional to win
Tip 2 - Both teams to score: No
Tip 3 - Under 2.5 goals
