Preview: Tigre vs. Academia Puerto Cabello - prediction, team news, lineups

The hosts are struggling domestically but have a good chance of progressing in continental competition, whist Puerto Cabello are leading the way in Venezuela.

Match preview

Tigre's winless run in all competitions extended to six matches last time out with a 3-1 loss at home to high-flying Talleres in the Primera Division.

A goal just before the half-time break from Abel Luciatti levelled the scores following Michael Santos's opener for the second-placed visitors, however a late brace from Nahuel Bustos took all of the points away from Tigre.

Diego Martinez's men now return to Sudamericana action - a competition in which they are unbeaten in during their last three contests, with the most-recent match ending in a share of the spoils with Tolima of Colombia.

Tigre will secure their passage into the next round of the competition if they are able to better Tolima's result in this week's round of fixtures - the Colombians face a tough test against Brazilian giants Sao Paulo.

Academia Puerto Cabello know their spell in the Sudamericana is coming to an end after four losses in their opening quartet of group matches means they are now unable to finish inside the top two of the section.

The Venezuelans won both of their domestic league games in May but struggled to translate that form into the Sudamericana, losing 2-0 to Sao Paulo and 3-0 to Tuesday's opponents Tigre in the reverse fixture.

Cabello have failed to score in any of their matches so far, with talisman Luifer Hernandez unable to take his good form in Venezuela onto the continental stage for all of South America to see.

Noel Sanvicente's charges are nine points clear of Deportivo Tachira in the Venezuelan Primera Division after 14 matches - Cabello will be targeting a spot in Copa Libertadores next term.

Tigre Copa Sudamericana form:

L

W

W

D

Tigre form (all competitions):

D

L

D

D

L

L

Academia Puerto Cabello Copa Sudamericana form:

W

L

L

L

L

Team News

Tigre have a host of players in the medical room ahead of their game in midweek, with winger Alexis Castro out of action for a few weeks due to a baçk injury.

Ijiel Protti is a longer-term absentee for the hosts - the 28-year-old is targeting a return date of August after suffering an Achilles tendon injury in February.

Puerto Cabello are likely to make changes from the team who were outplayed by Sao Paulo last time out, with Junior Cedeno and Alfredo Stephens both pushing for starts in the midfield.

The aforementioned Hernandez and 23-year-old Danny Perez will be the two-man strike force tasked with scoring the visitors' first goal in the competition this year.

Tigre possible starting lineup:

Marinelli; Ortega, Cabrera, Luciatti, Montoya; Menossi, Cardozo, Molinas; Coldio, Retegui, Armoa

Academia Puerto Cabello possible starting lineup:

Romero; De la Hoz, Peraza, Rivero, Osio, Granados; Ayine, Colina, Lugo; Hernandez, Perez

We say: Tigre 4-0 Academia Puerto Cabello

Tigre have a chance of earning their place in the knockout stages of the competition in this one and should be confident of beating a visiting side who have not managed to collect a point yet.

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