Preview: Danubio vs. Huracan - prediction, team news, lineups

The visitors have also endured a difficult run of form in recent weeks having failed to win any of their last seven matches.

Match preview

Competing in the Copa Sudamericana for the first time in five years, Danubio have failed to build on their opening group-stage win over Emelec as they have picked up just one point from their last three matches.

A 1-1 draw away at Hurucan was sandwiched either side of 2-1 and 2-0 defeats to Club Guarani, and they subsequently sit at the bottom of Group B with just two fixtures remaining.

Fortunately for Esteban Conde's side, they are only one point behind Thursday's opponents Hurucan and just three behind Club Guarani at the top of the group, so all hope is not lost at this stage heading into their penultimate fixture.

Danubio's aforementioned win at home against Emelec at the end of April was the last time they tasted victory, while their most recent fixture on Saturday ended as a 1-1 draw away against Wanderers in the Uruguayan Primeira Division.

Despite the 29th-minute dismissal of captain Leandro Sosa, Danubio fought back to earn a point with Guillermo May's second-half penalty cancelling out an opener from Ramiro Costa.

Conde will hope that his side can show a similar fighting spirit in Thursday's clash with Hurucan, who have suffered back-to-back defeats in the Argentine Primeira Division, including last weekend's 2-0 loss at Central Cordoba.

After finishing fourth in the top flight last season, Hurucan have suffered a sharp decline this term and are now languishing in 25th place after 19 matches, with hopes of securing a continental spot for next year seemingly all but over.

Nevertheless, Globo remain in the mix to progress from Group B of this year's Copa Sudamericana, with a 2-2 draw against Emelec in their most recent group fixture keeping them in second place, level on points with Emelec in third with two games remaining.

Hurucan, who were eliminated from the third stage of Copa Liberatores qualifying earlier this year, can all but guarantee their progression from the Copa Sudamericana group stage with victory on Thursday.

However, Sebastian Battaglia's side have failed to win each of their last 12 away matches in all competitions dating back to January 23.

Danubio Copa Sudamericana form:

W

W

L

D

L

Danubio form (all competitions):

L

D

L

D

L

D

Huracan Copa Sudamericana form:

W

L

D

D

Huracan form (all competitions):

L

D

D

D

L

L

Team News

Danubio with be without right-back Mateo Ponte and midfielder Franco Gonzalez as they are currently representing Uruguay at the Under-20s World Cup.

Leandro Sosa is available for selection despite being sent off in the Primeira Division draw with Wanderers and the 32-year-old is set to line up in centre-midfield alongside Santiago Silva and Juan Millan.

As for Huracan, Gaston Sauro played the full 90 minutes on his return from a muscle injury last weekend, and the centre-back could retain his place in the first XI alongside Joaquin Novillo.

Experienced midfielder Lucas Castro will be pushing to start in the number 10 role in behind central striker Nicolas Cordero, which will likely see Matias Coccaro and Juan Manuel Garcia drop to the substitutes' bench.

Danubio possible starting lineup:

Goicoechea; Haller, Rea, Monzon, Saravia; Millan; Fernandez, Silva, Sosa, Cruz; May

Huracan possible starting lineup:

Chavez; Soto, Sauro, Novillo, Ibanez; Hezze, Fattori; Mazzanti, Castro, Gauto; Cordero

We say: Danubio 2-2 Huracan

Both teams are desperate to end their miserable runs of form and know that victory on Thursday will boost their hopes of progressing to the knockout rounds.

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