The Chilean team Huachipato and the Argentine club Racing will confront their own uncertainties this Tuesday as they seek to advance past the Round of 16 in the Copa Sudamericana, where La Academia has been viewed as the favorite since the first leg, scheduled to take place at the Sausalito Stadium in Viña del Mar, Chile.
The Argentine squad enters this phase after finishing at the top of Group H, achieving five victories and just one defeat in the tournament’s group stage. With this performance, the team from Avellaneda has established itself as a contender for the final.
The black and blues, current champions of Chile’s top tournament, were relegated from the Copa Libertadores, where they finished third in Group C. To reach this matchup, they overcame Racing de Montevideo in a previous qualifying round, winning on penalties.
The locals progressed narrowly under interim coach Francisco Troncoso and are currently in a transitional phase with the recent arrival of Spaniard Igor Oca, who has managed only two matches in the Chilean league so far.
Oca’s international experience includes a stint in Ecuador with Universidad Católica, where he was eliminated in the second round of the Copa Libertadores by Colombian team Millonarios.
Contrasting Situations for Huachipato and Racing de Avellaneda
The defending champions in Chile find themselves in the relegation zone, sitting in 15th place, and under coach Igor Oca, they have recorded one loss and one draw.
In contrast, Racing leads the Argentine league with 17 points, trailing only by three points from the top, although they recently suffered a 1-0 home defeat against Gimnasia de La Plata.
Additionally, the Argentine team’s historical record against Chilean sides boasts seven wins and one draw.
Following the league defeat, Coach Costas is contemplating the lineup and the potential inclusion of captain Leonardo Sigali, according to the Argentine media, although his frequent changes from match to match have raised some questions.
The Avellaneda side will be missing two players: midfielder Juan Nardoni, who is sidelined with an ankle injury, and Marco Di Cesare, who is suspended. There is also uncertainty regarding whether Colombian Juan Fernando Quintero will start.
Costas remarked about facing Huachipato that “if we want to advance, we must bring intensity. That will be crucial.”
Oca, on the other hand, has employed a 4-3-3 formation with a solid base team, making adjustments primarily within the midfield and forward positions.
The tactical questions revolve around whether Jeisson Vargas or Carlos Villanueva will serve as the central midfield anchor, and whether the attacking trio will feature Venezuelan Brayan Palmezano or Paraguayan Cris Martínez.
The Steelers have recently introduced a new signing, 25-year-old Uruguayan forward Thiago Vecino, who has joined from Vélez Sarsfield.
The winner of this matchup will proceed to the quarterfinals to face the victor of the tie between Athletico Paranaense and Belgrano de Córdoba.
Expected Lineups
Huachipato: Fabián Cerda; Maximiliano Gutiérrez, Benjamin Gazzolo, Imanol González, Antonio Castillo; Claudio Sepúlveda, Jeisson Vargas, Gonzalo Montes; Mario Briceño, Maximiliano Rodríguez, Cris Martínez.
Tomorrow’s Eve✍️
🏆CONMEBOL #Sudamericana #VamosHuachipato pic.twitter.com/YjXeemKR19
— Huachipato FC (@Huachipato) August 13, 2024
Racing: Gabriel Arias; Gaston Martirena, Leonardo Sigali, Santiago Quiros, Gabriel Rojas; Santiago Sosa, Agustín Almendra, Johan Carbonero, Maximiliano Salas, Adrián Martínez, and Roger Martínez.
➡️ Called up for the first leg of the round of 16 @Sudamericana. pic.twitter.com/ApBlTwXNvz
— Racing Club (@RacingClub) August 12, 2024
Schedule and Viewing Info for the Huachipato vs. Racing Match in the Sudamericana
The first leg of Huachipato vs. Racing, part of the Copa Sudamericana Round of 16, will be exclusively broadcast tomorrow Tuesday, August 13 at 6:00 p.m. on Directv and its live TV streaming platform DGO.
The match will occur at the Sausalito Stadium in Viña del Mar, following the sanctions imposed on the Ester Roa Stadium in Concepción. The referee for the match will be Peruvian Roberto Pérez.
Chilean Huachipato vs Argentine Racing: Copa Sudamericana Round of 16 Showdown
This Tuesday, Chilean club Huachipato and Argentine powerhouse Racing Club will battle it out in the first leg of the Round of 16 of the Copa Sudamericana, held at the historic Sausalito Stadium in Viña del Mar, Chile. With Racing viewed as the favorite, this exciting matchup promises to be a fierce competition as both teams seek to dispel the doubts surrounding their current form.
Performance Overview in the Copa Sudamericana
Racing Club enters this stage brimming with confidence, having topped Group H with five victories and a lone defeat. Their fantastic group-stage performance has firmly positioned La Academia as one of the top contenders aiming for a final spot in this prestigious tournament.
On the other hand, Huachipato, the reigning champions of Chile’s top tier, arrives here after a challenging spell in the Copa Libertadores, where they finished third in Group C. To progress into this stage, they overcame Racing de Montevideo in the previous qualifying round via a tense penalty shootout.
Transitioning under the interim management of Francisco Troncoso and the newly appointed Spanish coach Igor Oca, Huachipato is actively seeking to regain its strong footing amidst league challenges. Oca’s international stint includes prior experience with Universidad Católica in Ecuador, although his recent endeavors have not yielded desired results.
Contrasting League Positions: Huachipato vs Racing
Current Standing
- Huachipato: Currently sitting in 15th place and battling relegation in the Chilean league.
- Racing Club: Holding a strong position at the top of the Argentine league, just three points shy of the leader.
It’s essential to note the stark difference between these two teams. While Racing remains a force in Argentine football, Huachipato’s form has left them vulnerable, with a disappointing draw and a loss under Oca’s leadership.
Head-To-Head Record
Racing’s historical stats against Chilean teams bolster their confidence, boasting an impressive record of seven wins and a solitary draw.
Tactical Analysis: Coaches’ Strategies
Racing Club’s Approach
After a recent 1-0 home defeat against Gimnasia de La Plata, Racing’s coach, Costas, is contemplating tactical changes. He emphasizes the need for intensity to progress in the competition.
The following absentees complicate Costa’s selection:
- Midfielder Juan Nardoni (ankle injury)
- Defender Marco Di Cesare (suspended)
The situation around Colombian player Juan Fernando Quintero remains uncertain as to his starting position in the match.
Huachipato’s Formation
Conversely, Coach Oca has tended to adopt a consistent 4-3-3 formation, making minimal alterations to the midfield and frontline. Key decisions are emerging between players like Jeisson Vargas or Carlos Villanueva as central midfielders, and whether to start Brayan Palmezano or Cris Martínez up front, as they seek to enhance competitiveness in this fixture.
Recently, Huachipato has also recruited 25-year-old Uruguayan forward Thiago Vecino from Vélez Sarsfield to strengthen their attack.
Projected Lineups
Huachipato’s Likely Starting XI
| Position | Player |
|---|---|
| Goalkeeper | Fabian Cerda |
| Defenders | Maximiliano Gutierrez, Benjamin Gazzolo, Imanol Gonzalez, Antonio Castillo |
| Midfielders | Claudio Sepulveda, Jeisson Vargas, Gonzalo Montes |
| Forwards | Mario Briceño, Maximiliano Rodriguez, Cris Martinez |
Racing Club’s Expected Lineup
| Position | Player |
|---|---|
| Goalkeeper | Gabriel Arias |
| Defenders | Gaston Martirena, Leonardo Sigali, Santiago Quiros, Gabriel Rojas |
| Midfielders | Santiago Sosa, Agustín Almendra, Johan Carbonero |
| Forwards | Maximiliano Salas, Adrián Martínez, Roger Martínez |
Match Day Details: Schedule and Broadcast Information
Football fans can catch the action as Huachipato faces Racing Club in the first leg for the Round of 16 in the Copa Sudamericana this Tuesday, August 13 at 6:00 p.m. The match will be broadcasted exclusively on Directv and its live streaming platform DGO.
As both teams vie for a spot in the quarterfinals, the winner will proceed to face the victor of the match between Athletico Paranaense and Belgrano de Córdoba.
