Croatia
Indonesia
Nigeria
South Africa

Preview: Olimpia vs. Always Ready - prediction, team news, lineups

sportsmole.co.uk, 26 April 2021, 09:31
Always Ready will be aiming to make it two wins from two in the Copa Libertadores when they take on Olimpia at Defensores del Chaco in Asuncion on Wednesday night.

La Banda Roja beat Internacional 2-0 in their Group B opener, while Olimpia lost 3-2 against Deportivo Tachira and need to respond here.

Match preview

Fernando Saucedo and Carmelo Algaranaz were on target in the second half for Always Ready in their win against Internacional, seeing them get off to the perfect start.

The Bolivian champions are appearing in the Copa Libertadores for just a second time, with their only previous involvement ending in the first round 53 years ago.

Omar Asad's men followed up that victory over Internacional with a 0-0 draw at Oriente Petolero at the weekend - a result that leaves them eighth in their domestic league.

While Always Ready's league form has been mixed in the early stages of the season - two draws, two wins and a loss - they have made a good start to their continental campaign.

The opposite is true for Olimpia in many ways, as a 2-1 win against Club Guarani last time out saw them move level on points with Paraguayan Primera Division leaders Libertad.

That came on the back of a topsy-turvy affair with Tachira last week, with Lucas Trejo ultimately settling that match with a winning goal 10 minutes from time.

Paraguayan champions Olimpia have far more experience of playing in the Copa Libertadores, and they have won the competition on three previous occasions, most recently in 2002.

Sergio Orteman will know the importance of his side hitting back from the loss to Tachira - their only defeat in six matches - with all three points on Wednesday.

This will be the first ever competitive encounter between the two clubs, and the result could go a long way to determining which side advances to the last 16.

Olimpia Copa Libertadores form:

Olimpia form (all competitions):

Always Ready Copa Libertadores form:

Always Ready form (all competitions):

Team News

Carmelo Algaranaz scored as a second-half substitute against Internacional to seal the win and may be considered for a starting spot on Wednesday.

Marc Enoumba, Samuel Galindo and John Mosquera are the other Always Ready players pushing for inclusion from the opening Copa Libertadores outing.

As for the home team, they will be forced into at least one change as Alejandro Silva was sent off for two bookable offences against Tachira.

Juan Rodrigo Rojas is the most likely contender to come into the side down the right, while Edwar Lopez is another pushing for a recall.

Former River Plate attacker Roman Sosa was on target against Tachira and now has three goals in 11 appearances in all competitions this season.

Olimpia possible starting lineup:

Aguilar; Otalvaro, Caceres, Alcaraz, Torres; Rojas, Ortiz, Quintana, Sosa; Recalde, Santa Cruz

Always Ready possible starting lineup:

Lampe; Cummings, Cabrera, Flores; Ramallo, Machado, Arce, Saucedo, Vander; Ovejero, Sanguinetti

We say: Olimpia 1-1 Always Ready

Always Ready picked up an impressive win against Internacional in their Group B opener and are unbeaten in five games in all competitions, keeping a clean sheet in three of those.

Olimpia need to respond to their loss against Tachira and, having netted in their last 11 games, we can see them picking up a point in a score draw.

Top News

22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Dundee Utd vs. Celtic (Sunday, 12.00pm) Celtic, looking to maintain their unbeaten run in the Scottish Premiership, will travel to Tannadice Park on Sunday afternoon to face Dundee United. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Everton vs. Chelsea (Sunday, 2.00pm) Chelsea have the chance to go top of the Premier League for a brief time at least when they travel to Goodison Park to face Everton on Sunday. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk South American giants Palmeiras have reportedly sent an 'initial proposal' to Fulham for midfielder Andreas Pereira. 22 December 2024 talksport.com Nuno Espirito Santo will rival Arne Slot to win the Premier League's Manager of the Year award. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona want to sever ties with attacker Ansu Fati at the earliest opportunity in the January transfer window but the player is rebelling against a move, according to a report. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Bayern Munich winger Leroy Sane has confirmed that he wants to remain at the Allianz Arena despite links with a return to the Premier League next year. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Serie A powerhouses Napoli have supposedly expressed an interest in signing Manchester United defender Harry Maguire on a free transfer next summer. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Alexander Sorloth scored a last-gasp winner as Atletico Madrid defeated Barcelona 2-1 at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys to go top of the La Liga table. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal attacker Bukayo Saka has been seen leaving Selhurst Park on crutches after sustaining a suspected hamstring problem in Saturday's 5-1 Premier League win over Crystal Palace. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal have written a new page of English football history thanks to their 5-1 destruction of London rivals Crystal Palace in Saturday's Premier League derby. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Round 17 of the 2024-25 Turkish Super Lig will be wrapped up with a clash between two sides from the Marmara region, as Istanbul Basaksehir welcome Kasimpasa to the Basaksehir Fatih Terim Stadyumu on Monday evening. 21 December 2024 talksport.com Leicester loan star Facundo Buonanotte wants to see a Tottenham forward join him so they can rekindle their partnership. 21 December 2024 talksport.com Arsenal's rivals will hate it but they can definitely claim London is red after their 5-1 win over Crystal Palace. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus continued his resurgence with two goals as the Gunners demolished Crystal Palace 5-1 in the Premier League at Selhurst Park. 21 December 2024 talksport.com Arsenal fans' worst fears have been realised with Bukayo Saka substituted early with a suspected hamstring injury. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal have suffered a worrying injury blow over Bukayo Saka, who appeared to pick up a hamstring problem in Saturday's Premier League clash with Crystal Palace. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona and Arsenal are reportedly both interested in signing Sevilla midfielder Lucien Agoume, with the France Under-21s international potentially leaving Estadio Ramon next summer. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid have welcomed Ferland Mendy back into their squad for Sunday's La Liga clash with Sevilla. 21 December 2024 talksport.com Mykhailo Mudryk will be sat ringside at Oleksandr Usyk's rematch with Tyson Fury days after being suspended from football. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Southampton have confirmed the appointment of former Roma head coach Ivan Juric as their new manager following the departure of Russell Martin. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Newcastle United's 4-0 victory against Ipswich Town on Saturday afternoon at Portman Road ensured that they followed up their qualification for the EFL Cup semi-final with an important three points in the Premier League. 21 December 2024 talksport.com Southampton have confirmed ex-Roma boss Ivan Juric as their new manager to replace Russell Martin. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Nottingham Forest enhanced their Champions League credentials and condemned Brentford to their first home loss of the Premier League season with a 2-0 victory at the Gtech Community Stadium. 21 December 2024 talksport.com Jack Grealish burned some bridges with Aston Villa after taunting the club's fans following their victory over Manchester City. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk A fitting final Premier League match before Christmas Day, Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool engage in a battle of the behemoths in North London on Sunday afternoon. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aston Villa handed Manchester City a 2-1 defeat on Saturday, adding to the woes of Pep Guardiola's side, who have now endured nine losses in their last 12 matches. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aston Villa head coach Unai Emery has claimed that his side decided to defeat Manchester City "through domination" on Saturday afternoon. 21 December 2024 talksport.com "This is a crisis." 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid will be bidding to return to winning ways in La Liga when they welcome Sevilla to Bernabeu on Sunday. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid have added Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk to their wishlist for the summer transfer window, according to a report.