Paraguayan side Olimpia host Brazilian outfit Internacional for the first leg of their last-16 tie in the Copa Libertadores on Friday.

The two sides faced each other during the group stage, with the Colorado winning on both occasions by an aggregate score of 7-1.

Match preview

After over six weeks away from competitive football, Olimpia will be back in action at the Estadio Manuel Ferreira, hoping to progress to the quarter-finals for the first time since 2013 when they went all the way to the final.

The three-time Copa Libertadores champions come into Friday's game off the back of finishing second in the Paraguayan Primera Division Apertura, five points behind Club Libertad at the summit.

Sergio Orteman will be hoping that his side can challenge for top spot in the Clausura, but he must first turn his attention to their clash with Internacional, a team that have beaten them in both of their previous two meetings.

Olimpia finished second in the Copa Libertadores group stages, winning and losing three games each. Defensive frailties seemingly cost El Decano top spot in Group B, as they conceded 14 goals from their six matches; only three other teams conceded more goals during the group stage.

Seven of those goals were conceded against Internacional, and so Orteman will be aware of the threat that Friday's opposition pose.

Olimpia have played just one match since the group stage came to its conclusion in May, winning 2-1 in a league encounter away at River Plate Asuncion. In stark contrast, Internacional have played 13 domestic games during this period.

As well as losing 3-2 on aggregate to Vitoria in the third round of the Copa do Brasil, the Colorado have also struggled in the Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A, winning just two of their opening 11 league matches.

Miguel Angel Ramirez's side – who finished second in the Brazilian top flight last season – currently sit 15th in the table and just four points above the relegation zone.

Form needs to improve across all competitions, though with a two-legged tie against Olimpia, Internacional will fancy their chances of claiming a positive result.

The Colorado beat Friday's opponents twice during the group stage, thrashing them 6-1 on home soil before securing a narrow 1-0 win in the reverse fixture.

Another victory in Asuncion will move Ramirez's men one step close to their second quarter-final in three years.

Team News

Olimpia right-back Sergio Otalvaro was sent off in their final group-stage match against Deportivo Tachira and so will miss the first leg, with Alan Benitez the most likely contender to replace him.

After using a 4-3-3 system in the 6-1 defeat to Internacional, Orteman switched to a 4-4-2 formation for the reverse fixture, and he is expected to stick with this on Friday.

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.

As for Internacional, Paolo Guerrero (knee), Abel Hernandez (heel), Mauricio (sprained ankle), Ze Gabriel (thigh) and Rodrigo Moledo (knee) are all ruled out with injuries.

Centre-back Lucas Ribeiro is likely to come into the starting lineup at the expense of Bruno Mendez, while Edenilson and Rodrigo Dourado could keep their partnership going in central midfield.

Either Yuri Alberto or Thiago Galhardo – who have scored a combined 18 goals so far this season – are set to start as the lone striker, with the latter expected to get the nod.

Olimpia possible starting lineup:
Aguilar; Benitez, Alcaraz, Salcedo, I. Torres; Quintana, Ortiz, Rojas, Estigarribia; W. Gonzalez, Recalde

Internacional possible starting lineup:
Daniel; Saravia, Ribeiro, Cuesta, Moises; Edenilson, Dourado; Vidal, Patrick, Taison; Galhardo

We say: Olimpia 0-2 Internacional

Internacional are unbeaten in each of their last five away matches, while Olimpia's only defeat on home soil in their last eight games was against Friday's opponents.

Even though the visitors have struggled domestically, we feel that their attacking quality can help them secure another victory in Asuncion.