Afghanistan
Angola
Argentina
Asia (AFC)
Asian Games
Australia
Belgium-Netherlands
Brazil
Burkina Faso
Central American & Caribbean Games
Central American Games
Congo DR
Denmark
England
Europe (UEFA)
FYR Macedonia
Finland
Germany
Greece
International Tournaments
Italy
Mediterranean Games
Mexico
National
Nepal
North & Central America (Concacaf)
Palestine
Pan American Games
Panama
Russia
Scandinavia
Serbia And Montenegro
South American Games
Spain
Syria
USA
Venezuela
World (FIFA)
Yemen
Zimbabwe

Preview: Barcelona SC vs. Cerro Porteno - prediction, team news, lineups

sportsmole.co.uk, 27 June 2023, 15:00
Ecuadorian side Barcelona SC welcome Paraguayan outfit Cerro Porteno to the Estadio Monumental for their final group fixture in the Copa Libertadores on Friday.

Neither team can progress to the knockout rounds, but a victory for either club will see them secure third spot and drop down into the Copa Sudamericana.

Match preview

Since the resignation of head coach Fabian Bustos at the beginning of June, interim boss Pablo Trobbiani is yet to turn Barcelona's fortunes around, winning just one of his opening three games in charge.

The Bullfighters ended a four-game losing streak when they beat rivals Guayaquil City 2-1 away from home in the LigaPro first round on June 11, but they returned to losing ways eight days later when they suffered defeat by the same scoreline at home to Universidad Catolica.

Twelve months on from finishing top of the first-round table, Barcelona had to settle for fourth place this term after 15 matches, finishing eight points behind table-toppers Independiente del Valle. While kick-starting the second-round phase in positive fashion will be high on Trobbiani's agenda, the club's primary focus is now on securing third spot in Group C of the Copa Libertadores.

Indeed, finishing third will be enough for Barcelona or Friday's opponents Cerro Porteno to drop down into the Copa Sudamericana knockout rounds, with the two teams currently level on three points each heading into their final group fixture against each other - Barcelona require just a draw, though, to remain third as they boast a slightly better goal difference.

Trobbiani's side, who have lost three of their last five home matches in all competitions, will be seeking revenge against Cerro Porteno after losing 2-1 to the Paraguayan club in their opening group fixture in April.

Cerro Porteno's win over Barcelona was one of 10 wins in 13 games across all tournaments between the beginning of March and the end of April. However, Facundo Sava's side have since suffered a decline in form as they have won only two of their last 10 matches.

The Cyclone will have had a 19-day break from competitive action before they walk out at the Estadio Monumental on Friday, with their last match ending as a 2-2 draw with Tacuary in the Paraguayan Primera Division on June 11 - a game in which Damian Bobadilla netted an 80th-minute equaliser to rescue a point.

Cerro Portano, who ended the Apertura in second place, will be hoping to return to winning ways against Barcelona on Friday ahead of the Clausura beginning at the start of next month.

Sava, who briefly represented Fulham during his playing days, has failed to lead his side to victory in each of their last four away matches, while the Cyclone have also suffered defeat in both Copa Libertadores group-stage away meetings with Palmeiras and Bolivar this term. Cerro Portano can ill-afford to continue this winless run on the road if they wish to leapfrog Barcelona into third spot and seal their place in the Copa Sudamericana.

Barcelona SC Copa Libertadores form:

L

W

L

L

L

Barcelona SC form (all competitions):

D

L

W

L

L

L

Cerro Porteno Copa Libertadores form:

W

W

L

L

L

L

Cerro Porteno form (all competitions):

Team News

Barcelona midfielder Luis Arce remains sidelined with a long-term knee injury, but Leonai is available for selection despite receiving two yellow cards in the LigaPro defeat to Universidad last time out.

Trobbiani will ponder whether to select either Carlos Rodriguez or Joshue Quinonez at centre-back alongside Luca Sosa, while Victor Mendoza may be recalled to start in goal at the expense of Javier Burrai.

Francisco Fydriszewski, who scored a brace in the 4-2 group-stage loss to Palmeiras earlier this month, is set to lead the line, with captain Damian Diaz operating just behind in the number 10 role.

As for Cerro Portano, Gabriel Baez is available for selection after serving a one-match continental ban against Bolivar in matchday five, and the left-back is expected to start ahead of Daniel Rivas.

Diego Churin and Claudio Aquino both scored and assisted each other in the group-stage win over Barcelona in matchday one, and the attacking duo could continue in the starting lineup on Friday.

Barcelona SC possible starting lineup:

Mendoza; Pineida, Rodriquez, Sosa, Portocerrero; Gaibor, Leonai; Ortiz, Diaz, Corozo; Fydriszewski

Cerro Porteno possible starting lineup:

Jean; Espinola, Alvarez, Da Motta, Baez; Bobadilla, Lucena, Viera; Carrizo, Churin, Aquino

We say: Barcelona SC 1-2 Cerro Porteno

Neither team enters Friday's contest with strong form under their belts, but they will be motivated to claim all three points in Guayaquil and continue their continental journey in the Copa Sudamericana.

Previews by email

Top News

14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk England moved to the top of their 2024-25 UEFA Nations League group on Thursday evening courtesy of a 3-0 victory over Greece. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Didier Deschamps was left frustrated on Thursday as his France side failed to capitalise on their dominance against Israel, being held to a 0-0 draw, though they still progressed to the UEFA Nations League quarterfinals after Italy beat Belgium in the other League A Group 2 fixture. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk England have risen to the top of Group 2 of League B in the UEFA Nations League courtesy of a 3-0 victory over Greece in Athens on Thursday night. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Sandro Tonali's first international goal was enough to send Italy through to the finals of the UEFA Nations League courtesy of a 1-0 win away in Belgium this evening. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea Women and Manchester City Women will go head-to-head in Saturday's top-of-the-table clash at Stamford Bridge. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Pep Guardiola has asked Manchester City to sign two defenders in 2025, according to a report. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Al-Nassr centre-back Aymeric Laporte has said that he is open to making the move to Real Madrid. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona sporting director Deco has said that his club are not planning to be active during the January transfer window. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Moldova can boost their hopes of securing promotion from League D Group 2 in the UEFA Nations League when they face fellow European minnows Andorra at Estadi Nacional on Saturday. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Montenegro welcome Iceland to Stadion Kraj Bistrice in Niksic for their penultimate League B Group 4 fixture in the UEFA Nations League on Saturday evening. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal Women and Tottenham Hotspur Women will be looking to secure derby bragging rights when they face off in Saturday's Women's Super League clash at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Nacho has ruled out the possibility of returning to Real Madrid amid suggestions that Los Blancos were considering making an attempt to re-sign him during the January transfer window. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Two teams with contrasting objectives in the National League are set to meet at the Gateshead International Stadium on Saturday, as promotion hopefuls Gateshead host relegation-threatened Aldershot Town. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Ruben Amorim will reportedly take Manchester United training for the first time on Monday, with the club confident that his visa will have arrived in time for him to officially get on the grass next week. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni has said that a back issue forced Lisandro Martinez to pull out of the squad for the national team's upcoming 2026 World Cup qualification matches with Paraguay and Peru. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Bayer Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso has reportedly set his sights on an exit from the club next summer, and plans to take key man Alex Grimaldo with him. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Locked together at the top of League C Group 1 with two games to play, Sweden and Slovakia will battle it out to take the outright lead when they meet on Saturday evening. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal will reportedly allow out-of-favour defender Jakub Kiwior to leave the club on loan in January. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Wales travel to the Kadir Has Stadium in Kayseri to face Turkey in their penultimate League B Group 4 fixture in the UEFA Nations League on Saturday evening. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona midfielder Pablo Torre has not ruled out the possibility of leaving the club in January, after seeing his game time reduced recently. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aiming to narrow their gap to the top two in the League One table with a third consecutive victory, Barnsley will visit the Abbey Stadium to take on Cambridge United on Saturday. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Alexander Isak has delivered a fresh update on his future at Newcastle United, amid reported interest from a number of clubs including Arsenal. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk West Ham United Women will attempt to claim back-to-back victories when they travel to the Broadfield Stadium for Saturday's Women's Super League meeting with Brighton & Hove Albion Women. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Roma have confirmed the appointment of 73-year-old Claudio Ranieri as their new first-team manager until the end of the season. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Newcastle United winger Anthony Gordon has revealed that he was "desperate" to join Chelsea in 2022. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal could rival Manchester City and Liverpool for the signature of Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool are reportedly weighing up whether to make a move for in-form PSV Eindhoven striker Ricardo Pepi. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk As exquisite as Pedro Neto's equaliser was, the Portuguese's 20-yard leveller for Chelsea in Sunday's 1-1 Premier League draw with Arsenal was arguably more to do with the Gunners' uncharacteristic defensive failings. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona have reportedly made a decision over whether they will pursue a move for Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Estevao Willian has revealed that he will continue with his education even after completing a big-money transfer to Chelsea.