Football Bet of the Day: Always Ready out to defend 100% home record in Copa Sudamericana

Friday's football bet of the day comes from El Alto, Bolivia as Always Ready host Ecuadorian outfit LDU Quito in the second leg of their Copa Sudamericana round of 32 tie at Estadio Municipal de El Alto (01:30).

LDU blew the Bolivians away in the first leg, winning 3-0 in Quito courtesy of strikes from Alex Arce, Ricardo Arde and Jhojan Julio, leaving Friday's hosts with a mountain to climb to reach the last 16 of the competition, where Argentinian side Lanus lie in wait.

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Always Ready finished second in Group A of the 2024 Copa Sudamericana, ahead of both Cesar Vallejo and Defensa y Justicia but two points behind group winners Independiente Medellin, who gained direct access to the last 16.

Like the triumphant Colombians, Always Ready won all three group games at home, scoring seven times and keeping three clean sheets, but it was their away record that let them down as they failed to win on their travels.

The Albirrojo ended Group A with just two away points - fewer than all other three sides - and their difficulties away from El Alto were laid bare in last Friday's first leg in Quito, where they conceded twice inside the first 27 minutes.

Always Ready were unlikely to have been surprised by LDU's fast start, considering the Ecuadorians won twice at home in the Copa Libertadores group stage and led at half-time in both of those successes.

Like Always Ready, it's LDU's poor away form that has let them down on the continent. LDU picked up just a point on their travels in Copa Libertadores Group D, a record which ultimately cost them any chance of a top-two spot.

Always Ready vs LDU Quito Odds

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Still, LDU managed to secure third place and a round of 32 tie in South America's second-tier club competition, the Copa Sudamericana, where they were paired with Always Ready.

After tearing through their opponents last week, LDU can afford to lose by two goals on Friday and still set up a last-16 tie with Lanus. There could be a temptation on their part to sit back and soak up pressure, only looking to hit the Bolivians on the counter-attack, but that could be a dangerous tactic if Always Ready manage to build up some momentum.

As previously mentioned, Always Ready have a 100% record at home in this year's Copa Sudamericana and are yet to concede a goal in the competition at Estadio Municipal de El Alto, so they will be confident of at least keeping a clean sheet in this week's return fixture.

Whether they have enough in them to get the three goals they need to at least force a penalty shoot-out remains to be seen, but a 1-0 or 2-0 win is certainly within them.

It's well-known by now just how difficult it is for outsiders to play in Bolivia due to the altitude, and El Alto is one of the highest major cities in the world at up to 4,300m above mean sea level.

Always Ready have won all four of their home games to nil in the Copa Sudamericana's history, and will be confident of making it a fifth on Friday.

Offers

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