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

Prediction published on 20/08/2024, 18:00  by Nella Wagah in Copa Libertadores Predictions

Sao Paulo will be eyeing home advantage as they seek to see off Nacional for a place in the Copa Libertadores quarter-finals. The two sides meet in Brazil for the Round of 16 return leg, a tie currently balanced at 0-0. Read on for the preview and our prediction of this match.

A week ago, these two sides met for the first time in 16 years and like in most meetings, it ended in low scores. None of the five matches pitting these sides has ever seen more than two goals scored.

Sao Paulo have been the dominant so far, being unbeaten, with three wins. It is this run they’ll be banking on as they target a win at home. Their ambition will be backed by four wins in their last six Libertadores matches.

At home in this competition, they only lost once in 12 matches.

Nacional have an uphill task as they head out to Brazil. The 0-0 draw at home left them winless in two Copa Libertadores matches. A run of nine matches in all competitions without defeat should, however, provide the needed lift.

Right ahead of this game, Nacional had an encouraging performance in a six-goal thriller as they held River Plate to a 3-3 draw. Nicolas Gonzalez’s stoppage time goal earned the point in a rare high-scoring game for Nacional.

Riding this momentum, the Uruguayan side will be confident of upsetting Sao Paulo. Their away form in Libertadores could be an impediment though. Nacional have won only four times in 17 away matches in this competition.

They failed to score in two of the last four away Libertadores matches.