Defensa y Justicia vs LDU Quito Prediction: Defensa y Justicia need to do the impossible

LDU Quito are on the verge of qualifying for the Copa Sudamericana final, as they defeated the Argentine team Defensa y Justicia at home in the first game of the semi-final - 3:0. It will be difficult for Florencio Varela's team to get out of the mud, since only twice has it happened that someone has lost such advantage in the semifinals or finals of any Conmebol competition: Atletico Mineiro against Rosario Central in 1995 in the final of the Conmebol Cup (4:0 in Brazil, then 4 :0 in Argentina and Rosario won on penalties) and Santos Laguna against Emelec in the semifinals of the Copa Merconorte in 2001 (4:1 in Mexico, then 4:1 in Ecuador and Emelec won on penalties). Quito also equaled the competition record for the most convincing victory in the first leg of the Copa Sudamericana semifinals, since only Independiente del Valle was as convincing against Melgar last year.

Form: LLLWW

This team was on a great run of 10 matches without a defeat, then in a week, they were defeated 3 times. The hardest of all these defeats was in the first leg of Copa Sudamericana against LDU Quito in Ecuador where they conceded 3 goals. Now this rematch seems like mission impossible and even the public in Argentina doesn’t give Defensa y Justicia much credit. Kevin Gutierrez and Nicolas Fernandez will be out for this match and in the recent matches we saw how much these players mean to the team. They don’t have many options for this match, they have to attack from the start and try to score as early in the match as possible.

Form: WWLWL

LDU Quito used the home-field advantage in the best possible way. Every team struggles when playing in Ecuador, but nobody expected that in the first leg of the Copa Sudamericana semi-finals, one team would have such an advantage before the rematch. LDU Quito are coming into this match with little pressure on them, they have an amazing advantage of 3 goals which they need to defend smartly and carefully.

As it’s clear that the hosts will go all in from the very start, and will try to break the opponent early, LDU Quito have different plans and will play with more defensive formation. However, they are very good in the counter attacks and in this match, it will be their main weapon. Defensa y Justicia might be a better team, but the result from the first match will be in their heads and it’s a pressure plus they got to carry. I think both teams will score in this match and Defensa y Justicia may come out as a winner of this match, but LDU Quito will be part of the big final.