Estudiantes vs Independiente Medellin: Must-win clash for hosts in group finale

The final round of action in the Copa Libertadores pits third against second in Group A, with just a point separating the pair. Estudiantes were leapfrogged last time out, thanks to Independiente Medellin scoring two late goals in a dramatic 3-2 victory over bottom side Cusco.

The Colombian side are in the driving seat for a place in the next round, but can they hold out in La Plata? Read on for my Estudiantes vs Independiente Medellin predictions, alongside team news and match odds, ahead of this showdown at the Estadio Jorge Luis Hirschi (9:30pm local Tuesday, 1:30am BST Wednesday).

Team News

The hosts will be without wing-back Santiago Arzamendia for this game, but outside of that they have a clean bill of health. 

Football Odds

Independiente Medellin haven't played since their victory in Peru last week and they're expected to name an unchanged side. 

Estudiantes vs Independiente Medellin Odds

Estudiantes are priced at 8/13 to claim the win they need to make the knockout rounds, despite the hosts dropping points in four of their five group games to date.

Independiente Medellin are 9/2 to claim a victory, but a point would be enough for the Colombian side, with the draw priced at 5/2.

Goals are expected to be at a premium given the stakes, with under 2.5 priced at 4/6. However, the respective form of both sides suggest this could be a more open contest, making over 2.5 stand out at 6/5.

Both teams to score @ 6/5

Estudiantes head into this game searching for their first clean sheet of this Libertadores campaign, having conceded in all five matches.

The Argentinian side had scored in every game, before their 1-0 loss at defending champions Flamengo last week.

These two opened their group stage campaigns with a 1-1 draw in Colombia and Independiente have enjoyed some open contests since.

After three of their four qualifiers finished with both teams scoring, the Colombian side have managed one shutout, which came in their home win over Cusco.

The visitors have conceded seven times across their four completed matches, but the fact that they scored in their loss at Flamengo suggests they can threaten going forward in this contest.

Across all competitions, Estudiantes have conceded in four of their last five matches, and Independiente will have to throw caution to the wind should they fall behind.

Estudiantes to win 2-1 @ 15/2

While this has been a rough group campaign for the hosts, they've beaten Cusco and held Flamengo to a draw in their two home games to date.

The visitors lost heavily at group leaders Flamengo, while they netted twice in added time to avoid a 2-1 loss at Cusco last week.

The reverse fixture was a close affair, with the two sharing the spoils as Independiente edged it 5-4 in terms of shots on target.

Estudiantes should control the game at home, but they've tended to claim wins by slender margins this season.

Six of their nine domestic victories have come by a single goal, while their only Libertadores win was a 2-1 success over Cusco.

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