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The action resumes in the Copa Sudamericana as Cerro Porteno play host to Atletico Paranaense in the first leg of the knockout-stage playoff on Thursday. This will be the first meeting between the two sides since June 2019, when the Serie A outfit picked up a 2-0 friendly victory.
Cerro Porteno endured a forgettable run in the Copa Libertadores as they crashed out in the group stages after finishing third in Group A with six points from six matches.
Manolo Jimenez’s side secured a second-placed finish in the Paraguayan Apertura table last season as they picked up 45 points from their 22 matches.
Cerro Porteno head into Thursday’s game off the back of a 2-0 friendly victory over Scottish outfit Kilmarnock at the Marbella Football Center on June 29.
Atletico Paranaense, on the other hand, cruised to a 3-0 second-leg victory over Ypiranga last time out to secure a 4-2 aggregate victory over the Serie C side in the Copa do Brasil third-round clash.
Martin Varini's men now turn their attention to the Copa Sudamericana, where they picked up 12 points from six games to finish as runners-up in Group E, just one point off group winners Sportivo Ameliano.
Back home, Paranaense have enjoyed a decent campaign in Serie A as they sit eighth in the table with 25 points from 16 games so far.
Cerro Porteno vs Atletico Paranaense Head-To-Head and Key Numbers
- Cerro Porteno hold a slight upper hand in the history of this fixture, having won two of the last three meetings between the sides.
- Atletico Paranaense's only win against Cerro Porteno came in June 2019, when they beat the Paraguayan side 2-0 in a friendly courtesy of goals from Fernando Amorebieta and Joaquín Larrivey.
- Cerro Porteno are unbeaten in six of their last seven home games across all competitions, claiming five wins and one draw since May.
- Paranaense boast a 100% record away from home in the Copa Sudamericana this season, winning their three matches while scoring 10 goals and conceding twice.
Cerro Porteno vs Atletico Paranaense Prediction
Cerro Porteno have been rock-solid at home in recent weeks but will have to show their mettle against a Paranaense side who have won their three Sudamericana away matches this season.
Both sides are evenly matched on paper and we predict they will cancel out each other’s efforts.
Prediction: Cerro Porteno 1-1 Atletico Paranaense
Cerro Porteno vs Atletico Paranaense Betting Tips
Tip 1: Result - Draw
Tip 2: Over 2.5 goals - No (There have been fewer than three goals scored in four of Cerro Porteno’s last five matches)
Tip 3: Over 4.5 cards - No (There have also been fewer than five bookings in five of the hosts' last six games)
