2019 Copa Libertadores champions Flamengo will travel to three-times winners Olimpia in the first leg of their quarter-final clash on Wednesday.
The Paraguayans have failed to win any of their last three home matches in all competitions, while the visitors have won each of their last four games on the road.
Match preview
After losing twice and conceding seven goals to International during this season's group stages, Olimpia would have been aware of the difficult challenge they were to face when they were drawn against the Brazilian outfit again in the last 16.
However, Sergio Orteman's men managed to hold their own and came away with a goalless draw from the first leg, before winning the second leg 5-4 on penalties after another stalemate.
This is the first time in eight years that the Paraguayan side have advanced to the quarter-finals of the Copa Libertadores, after reaching the final in 2013.
Olimpia last faced Flamengo in this competition in 2012, drawing 3-3 in Brazil before securing a 3-2 win on home soil, with both teams failing to advance from the group stage that year.
Orteman's side head into Wednesday's game after losing their last two league matches, suffering a 2-0 home defeat to Guairena and a 3-1 loss away at Guarani. These defeats have seen Olimpia slip to ninth in the Paraguayan top flight, with just three points accumulated from their first four games of the Clausura.
As for Flamengo, an impressive run of eight successive wins across all competitions – in which they scored 27 goals – was ended in dramatic fashion when they were heavily beaten 4-0 at home to none other than Internacional, who Olimpia eliminated in the previous round of the Copa Libertadores.
After Yuri Alberto scored either side of half time and with Taison adding a third in the 55th minute, the game then swung massively in their favour when Flamengo's star forward Gabriel Barbosa was shown a second yellow card in the 63rd minute.
Alberto was able to complete his hat-trick seven minutes later, condemning the Scarlet-Black to their fifth league defeat of the campaign.
Flamengo's title defence has not gone according to plan so far, as they currently sit 10 points behind Brasileiro leaders Atletico Mineiro, though they do have two games in hand.
Renato Gaucho's men will be hoping to take their Copa Libertadores form, rather than their domestic form, into their quarter-final in midweek. The Scarlet-Black are yet to lose in this season's competition with five wins and three draws from their eight games so far, so they can travel to Asuncion with confidence.
- L
- W
- L
- W
- D
- W
- L
- W
- W
- W
- L
- L
- W
- D
- D
- D
- W
- W
- W
- W
- W
- W
- W
- L
Team News
Olimpia's only injury concern is with midfielder Alejandro Silva, who is set to miss the rest of this month with a muscle fibre tear.
Orteman may decide to name a similar starting lineup to the one that played against Internacional in their last-16 second-leg tie last month.
Striker Jorge Recalde, who has scored seven times so far this campaign, is set to start up front alongside either Walter Gonzalez, Isidro Pitta or former Bayern Munich and Manchester City forward Roque Santa Cruz.
Flamengo, meanwhile, will be without Piris Da Motta (ankle), Rodrigo Caio (calf) and Cesar (knee) due to injury.
Barbosa will be available despite his domestic dismissal last weekend and the former Inter Milan striker could start up front with Bruno Henrique, Everton Ribeiro and Giorgian de Arrascaeta the most likely three to play just behind him in advanced midfield roles.
William Arao and Diego began the last match in deep-lying midfield positions, though both Joao Gomes and Thiago Maia could be brought back in for Wednesday's game.
Olimpia possible starting lineup:
Aguilar; Salazar, Alcaraz, Salcedo, I. Torres; Ojeda, Ortiz, Orzusa, D. Gonzalez; W. Gonzalez, Recalde
Flamengo possible starting lineup:
Alves; Isla, G. Henrique, Pereira, Luis; Gomes, Maia; Ribeiro, De Arrascaeta, B. Henrique; Barbosa
We say: Olimpia 1-2 Flamengo
Both sides have looked defensively vulnerable in recent weeks and so we could see a few goals scored on Wednesday evening.
The visitors will head into this game as the slight favourites and we can see them coming away with a narrow victory.
Top tip
body check tags ::
