Nacional Montevideo vs SAO Paulo Prediction & Betting Tips - Copa Libertadores

Prediction published on 13/08/2024, 18:00  by Nella Wagah in Copa Libertadores Predictions

Brazilian giants Sao Paulo head to Uruguay to face Club Nacional in the first leg of their Copa Libertadores Round of 16 tie. This game on Friday will mark the fifth meeting between the two sides. Here’s our prediction for the match.

Nacional secured this slot despite losing twice at the group stages. They finished second in Group H with 10 points. It was never an easy ride in the first round, conceding seven times in six matches.

Things will definitely get tougher in the knockouts, as they have never beaten Sao Paulo previously. In the four meetings before, the Uruguayans even failed to score a goal. However, they carry a seven-game unbeaten run to this encounter and are also undefeated in six home matches, winning four.

Six-time Brazilian champions Sao Paulo are gunning for their fourth Libertadores title. They topped Group B to add to the dominant number of Serie A teams in the knockouts.

Here they’ll be targeting a first leg advantage to take them to five matches without a loss. In the last four, they won three and kept four clean sheets, while only failing to score in one.

The Brazilians are coming from a 1-0 win against Atletico Goianiense and are unbeaten in five Libertadores matches. In those five matches, they kept as many clean sheets, and won four times.

This meeting will be the first between the two sides since 2008 and Sao Paulo will be keen to extend their dominance. In four meetings so far, the visitors won three and the other was a draw.