LDU Quito vs Fluminense Prediction: Team News and Lineups Preview

It’s the Recopa Sudamericana first leg on Friday and Nathan Joyes has been brought in to provide his LDU Quito vs Fluminense prediction, team news, lineups and fixtures preview.

The Recopa Sudamericana is held over two legs between the Copa Libertadores and Sudamericana winners, who both have the opportunity to take advantage on home soil.

Our LDU Quito vs Fluminense prediction is for LDU Quito to win the match 2-1.

LDU Quito vs Fluminense Prediction, Team News, Fixtures and Lineups Preview

1. LDU Quito vs Fluminense Tip 1: LDU Quito to Win
2. LDU Quito vs Fluminense Tip 2: LDU Quito Over 1.5 Goals
3. LDU Quito vs Fluminense Tip 3: LDU Quito Win Second Half

In this article:

• LDU Quito vs Fluminense Team News and Possible Lineups
• LDU Quito vs Fluminense Match Stats
• Safer Gambling

LDU Quito vs Fluminense Tip 1: Altitude factor advantageous for hosts

Quito, Recopa Sudamericana, Friday, February 23rd, 00:30 (UK)

Fernando Diniz’s team travelled to Quito on Monday, four days prior to their match against LDU Quito, in order to try and adapt to the climate.

Based 2,500m above sea level, Estadio Rodrigo Paz Delgado is a challenge for any team that doesn’t play at high altitude, let alone Brazilian teams who come from nothing.

In such high altitudes, breathing becomes difficult with a lack of oxygen in the air, fatigue kicks in, and even the flight of the ball is completely different. While the hosts are used to these conditions, Fluminense will struggle – even if they have arrived early.

LDU Quito beat Brazilian outfit São Paulo 2-1 en route to winning the Sudamericana, where their home form was vitally important for them over the two-legged affairs.

With an ageing squad, Fluminense’s Brazilians, including Marcelo (35), Felipe Melo (40), Ganso (34) and Keno (34), will struggle to cope as the game progresses.

It’s also important to note John Kennedy, the Libertadores goalscoring hero, is suspended and hasn’t travelled to Ecuador.

LDU Quito’s season hasn’t started yet, but their prep game for this match saw them defeat Catolica 2-0 on Sunday. They’ll be prepared and ready for this encounter.

• LDU Quito vs Fluminense Tip 1: LDU Quito to Win (TRACKED BET)
• Best Odds: 2.04
• Bookmaker: Unibet
• Stake: 8/10

LDU Quito vs Fluminense Tip 2: Opportunity to Quito to strike

If the hosts are to make it count ahead of their trip to the Maracana next week, they’ll be chasing goals in their home environment.

As stated, they scored two against São Paulo in the Sudamericana quarter-finals, but they went one step further against Argentinian outfit Defensa y Justicia by scoring three. Whether those sides are better or not, the playing conditions have a significant impact.

But don’t just buy into the altitude factor. LDU Quito beat another Brazilian club, Fortaleza, in the Sudamericana final and are worthy of their place in this match.

A couple of key players have since moved on in the off-season, but new additions have been brought in, including Alex Arce Barrios for £2.5m, who scored 25 goals in 31 appearances in Argentina last year.

Michael Estrada is another striker brought in from Toluca, while highly-rated Bolivian Gabriel Villamil joins on loan from Bolivar.

Fluminense also lost captain and star centre-back Nino in the transfer window to Zenit, and his absence will be a huge loss to the Brazilians.

• LDU Quito vs Fluminense Tip 2: LDU Quito Over 1.5 Goals
• Best Odds: 2.10
• Bookmaker: Unibet
• Stake: 7/10

LDU Quito vs Fluminense Tip 3: Second half could be telling

As mentioned, Fluminense has had the luxury of travelling to Ecuador early on in the week in order to get used to the conditions. However, three days in Quito certainly won’t make you a local.

The high levels of altitude won’t favour a team made up largely of Brazilians, who never travel well. Fluminense recognised this in last year’s Libertadores group stage and sent a reserve side to La Paz in Bolivia, where they lost 1-0 to The Strongest.

Athletico Paranaense lost 3-1 in La Paz to Bolivar in last year’s round of 16, while Independiente del Valle battered Corinthians 3-0 in their Libertadores group stage.

Whether it be Ecuador or Bolivia, they certainly know how to utilise their advantage at home.

LDU Quito, whether they have broken through by half-time or not, will sense plenty of opportunities in the second 45 minutes against an ageing Fluminense side.

With refreshed legs heading into this fixture, with no travel or other priorities, expect the hosts to be more than ready for this game. A trip to the Maracana will seem daunting, and so a lead is a must from this first leg.

• LDU Quito vs Fluminense Tip 3: LDU Quito Win Second Half
• Best Odds: 2.45
• Bookmaker: Unibet
• Stake: 7/10

LDU Quito vs Fluminense Prediction odds via bet365 as at 09:00, February 20th, 2024. Odds may now differ.

LDU Quito vs Fluminense Team News and Possible Lineups: Business as usual

New boy Villamil is expected to start in the heart of the midfield after his move from Bolivar in the off-season. Having played at high altitude, he’ll have adapted to his new surroundings quicker than most and plenty of attention will be on the Bolivian.

Aside from Villamil, we should expect business as usual for LDU Quito, who will field a similar XI to the one vs Catolica in their recent 2-0 win.

John Kennedy will be missing from the squad after his red card in the Libertadores final vs Boca Juniors, with German Cano likely to lead the line. Fluminense may move to a three at the back, but we will have to see how Fernando Diniz chooses to line up in Quito.

LDU Quito possible starting lineup:
Dominguez; Quintero, Ade, Rodriguez, Piovi, Valverde, Villamil, Estupinan, Julio, Hurtado

Fluminense possible starting lineup:
Fabio; Marcelo, Felipe Melo, Guga, Martinelli, Andre, Ganso, Arias, Keno, Lima, Cano

Match Stats: Advantage to the Ecuadorian hosts

• LDU Quito lost only one match in 90 minutes at home en route to their Sudamericana success.
• Fluminense haven’t lost any of their nine state cup dates so far, although this will be their hardest fixture in 2024 so far.
• LDU Quito play at Estadio Rodrigo Paz Delgado, which is 2,500m above sea level.
• Fluminense only collected 13 points from 19 away matches in Brazil’s Serie A last campaign – the third worst in the league.

SAFER GAMBLING

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