Emelec vs Peñarol Preview

Topics: Emelec, Penarol, Copa Libertadores

If Penarol manage to pick up the three points against Emelec in Guayaquil they would practically assure themselves of a place in the Copa Libertadores knock-out stage.

Uruguayan giants Penarol travel to Ecuador to do battle with Emelec in what promises to be an explosive Copa Libertadores Group 4 encounter at the Estadio George Capwell on Tuesday.

Penarol, who edged Emelec 1-0 when the sides met in Montevideo in February, find themselves with 6 points from four games, the same number of points as Emelec. But, because they have scored more goals, Penarol are in second place of the group, while the Ecuadorians are in third place.

Velez Sarsfield of Argentina currently lead the group, with 9 points from four games. The Argentine club face Deportes Iquique of Chile in Buenos Aires, also on Tuesday.

Penarol, five-time winners of the Copa Libertadores, started off their campaign with two victories, against Deportes Iquique and Emelec, but went on to lose against Velez, both home and away, results that put their chances of reaching the Round of 16 stage in serious doubt.

For this reason, Penarol will arrive in Guayaquil with much caution, as a loss could bring an end to their chances of progressing. A win, on the other hand, would virtually assure them of a place in the Round of 16 stage.

Jorge Da Silva, the coach of Penarol, will field his strongest-possible starting eleven for the clash, which includes Marcelo Zalayeta and Juan Manuel Olivera up front.

Penarol will be boosted by the return of Sebastian Cristoforo, who missed Friday's league victory over Central Espanol, due to commitments with the Uruguayan youth side, who are preparing for the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Turkey in June.

Rivals Emelec, who beat Deportes Iquique 2-1 in their most recent Copa Libertadores clash, come into the game in extraordinary form, with eight successive victories in the Ecuadorian league.

Due to the fact that they are comfortably leading their domestic championship, a few players were rested for their 2-1 victory over Liga de Loja, in order to be in perfect shape to tussle with Penarol on Tuesday.

Three players are in serious doubt of missing out on the game, these being goalkeeper Esteban Javier Dreer, defender Jose Luis Quinonez and Paraguayan striker Pablo Zeballos.