Thursday's Copa Sudamericana predictions including Santos vs. Blooming

Santos vs. Blooming (Thursday, 11.00pm)

With both sides condemned to early exits from this year's Copa Sudamericana, Santos and Blooming close out underwhelming continental campaigns at the Estadio Urbano Caldeira in Group E on Thursday.

The Brazilian hosts have accumulated just four points so far and will bow out in third place, while their Bolivian visitors have five defeats on their notebook and cannot consign their South American sojourn to history quickly enough.

We say: Santos 3-1 Blooming

With the new manager bounce potentially coming into effect for Santos against a leaky Blooming outfit, the stage is set for the under-performing hosts to pick up a morale-boosting win.

Neither head coach should be losing sleep over the result of this game with their fates already sealed, but a convincing triumph for the hosts with a few goals in tow should lead to hope of a revival under Turra's wing.

Newell's OB vs. Audax (Thursday, 11.00pm)

With their top-two finishes already rubber-stamped, Newell's Old Boys and Audax Italiano meet in Thursday's final Copa Sudamericana Group E battle at the Estadio Marcelo Bielsa.

The Argentinian hosts are guaranteed to advance as group winners having amassed an impressive tally of 15 points so far, while their Chilean counterparts will partake in the knockout round playoffs.

We say: Newell's Old Boys 1-1 Audax Italiano

Vengeance may be playing on the minds of the Audax crop, but neither the visitors nor Newell's need over-exert themselves as they endeavour to avoid any serious injuries before the knockout rounds commence.

The visitors have been scoring for fun of late, but they should not get much change out of a well-drilled Newell's backline, and a cagey affair could end with the two sides shaking hands on a draw - one which will end the hosts' 100% record in Group E.

LDU Quito vs. Cesar Vallejo (Friday, 1.00am)

LDU Quito will aim to complete an unbeaten Copa Sudamericana group-stage campaign when they entertain Cesar Vallejo at La Casa Blanca on Thursday.

Sitting second in Group A, the hosts are guaranteed to join Brazilian side Botafogo in the knockout phase, while the visitors have already been eliminated.

We say: LDU Quito 2-0 Cesar Vallejo

Given that LDU Quito remain unbeaten in the Copa Sudamericana this year, we expect to hosts to cruise to a comfortable victory over Cesar Vallejo, who have one of the worst defensive records in the competition.

Penarol vs. America Mineiro (Friday, 1.00am)

America Mineiro head into their fixture with Penarol on Thursday evening knowing that only a win will do if they want to retain any hope of advancing through to the Copa Sudamericana knockout stages.

Meanwhile, the home side are simply aiming to restore some respectability after losing all five of their group-stage matches.

We say: Penarol 2-3 America Mineiro

With these teams facing contrasting levels of pressure, we would not be surprised to see the home side push their opponents all the way. However, we cannot ignore that the visitors must go on the offensive, leading us to predict an away victory in a five-goal thriller.

Defensa vs. Millonarios (Friday, 1.00am)

In the final round of fixtures in the Copa Sudamericana group stage, Defensa y Justicia will welcome Millonarios to Argentina on Friday for a crucial meeting at the top of Group F.

The hosts currently occupy top spot, the only place which guarantees progression to the round of 16, while their visitors sit second and are two points worse off, currently sitting in the knockout playoff place with everything still to play for.

We say: Defensa y Justicia 1-1 Millonarios

With confidence from the 3-0 beating they dished out to Defensa y Justicia in the reverse fixture, Millonarios travel knowing that only a win will be enough to guarantee them a round-of-16 place without a playoff, but we do not see them pulling off another victory in Argentina and instead opt for a draw, which would cement the first and second-placed finishes.