Early Bird Tips for Copa Libertadores and Sudamericana: Palmeiras to progress to prestigious final

South American expert Nathan Joyes puts forward his early bird tips for the upcoming Copa Libertadores and Sudamericana semi-final second legs.

Defensa y Justicia host LDU Quito, while Inter has the home advantage over Fluminense. Elsewhere, Palmeiras welcome Boca to Brazil after sharing a 0-0 draw in Argentina.

• Early Bird Tips for Defensa y Justicia vs LDU Quito: Over 4 First Half Corners
• Early Bird Tips for Internacional vs Fluminense: BTTS – Yes
• Early Bird Tips for Palmeiras vs Boca Juniors: Palmeiras to Win and Under 4.5 Goals

Acca odds: 8.20

Odds via bet365 as at 17:00, 1st October 2023. Odds may now differ.

Defensa y Justicia vs LDU Quito: Corner count to rack up in opening 45

Argentina, Copa Sudamericana, Wednesday 4th October, 23:00 (UK)

As I correctly predicted last week, LDU Quito took full advantage of their high altitude and comfortably dispatched Defensa y Justicia in Ecuador.

Back in Argentina, Defensa y Justicia will fancy themselves – and rightly so, but they have plenty of work to do to overturn the deficit.

However, having previously knocked out Botafogo and Emelec, they’ve been one of the standout teams in front of their own fans in this competition.

With them chasing the game, Defensa y Justicia will have no choice but to go all-out attack and hope for an early goal. Constant waves of pressure will see LDU Quito drop deeper and deeper – something we saw against Sao Paulo in the last round.

However, LDU Quito have pace on the break, with Gonzalez Baquero, Jhojan Julio and Renato Ibarra all capable of carrying the ball up the pitch quickly. A goal would ultimately kill the tie, and corners of their own will slow the pace of the match down – which the Ecuadorians will look to do as often as possible.

It’s difficult to predict whether Defensa y Justicia has what it takes to overturn three goals – especially as LDU Quito performed so well against Sao Paulo last time out. However, one guarantee will be the constant pressure, which is why first-half corners appeal at the prices.

• Selection: Over 4 First Half Corners
• Best Odds: 2.00
• Bookmaker: bet365

Internacional vs Fluminense: Goals on the cards between the Brazilians

Brazil, Copa Libertadores, Thursday 5th October, 01:30 (UK)

Samuel Xavier’s red card in the first half last week opened the door for Internacional – who took full advantage of their opportunity. However, two goals at the Maracana should have won them the game, but once again, German Cano came to the rescue.

With the match finely poised, we should be in for a cracker at Estadio Jose Pinheiro Borda. Internacional vs River Plate in the previous round served up a spectacle – and there’s no reason why this won’t either.

Inter will be delighted either way. Back in front of their fans, they’ll be looking to dispatch a Fluminense side that has won one of their last fourteen matches on the road. They have, however, scored in five of their last six matches – only failing to score at the weekend against Cuiaba.

Looking closer at the fixture, Fernando Diniz chose to rest the vast majority of his squad – he recognises the magnitude of the fixture as Flu look to secure a place in the final in their own backyard.

Fluminense’s German Cano has effectively run away with the golden boot. With eleven goals to his name and a brace in the first leg, Inter will need to find a way to stop him from finding the back of the net – a task not many have achieved in 2023.

Inter have a goalscorer of their own in Enner Valencia, and although they haven’t performed domestically, they’ve proven capable against anyone in the Libertadores.

Expect fireworks, cards, scuffles and drama – but I’m also expecting both to find the back of the net in what should be an electrifying night of South American football.

• Selection: BTTS – Yes
• Best Odds: 1.95
• Bookmaker: bet365

Palmeiras vs Boca Juniors: Palmeiras to finally give Argentines the boot

Brazil, Copa Libertadores, Friday 6th October, 01:30 (UK)

Boca Juniors have relied on two penalty shootouts to progress to this stage of the competition. Having been drawn in one of the weakest groups, as well as a generous draw en route to facing Palmeiras, their luck should finally run out in Brazil this week.

Tournament favourites Palmeiras travelled to La Bombonera last week and came away with the 0-0 draw they set out to achieve. The Brazilians frustrated Boca, knowing with the game finely poised, they would be able to outplay their opponents on their own turf in the reverse leg.

The 2020 and 2021 champions haven’t conceded a goal at home in the Libertadores knockout stages. Although they haven’t blown anyone away (bar Bolivar in the groups), they’ve never been under any threat in this competition and have breezed into the semi-finals.

A team filled with superstars who have been there and done it in recent years will be full of confidence. Their style of attacking play will effectively pin Boca back, not allowing them chances to steal a shock result. With Raphael Veiga, Artur and Rony leading the line, Palmeiras will be able to pull Boca’s backline around enough to create enough chances to win the match.

Boca, although heavily rotated, faced River Plate on Sunday evening – and from one intense fixture to another, their time in the Libertadores should finally come to an end. However, Boca can frustrate opponents, so adding under 4.5 match goals creates a generous odds-against angle.

• Selection: Palmeiras to Win and Under 4.5 Goals
• Best Odds: 2.10
• Bookmaker: bet365

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