- America de Cali are 2nd in Group A with 8 points from 5 games, undefeated at home (W1, D1).
- Macara lead the group with 9 points from 5 matches, having won both away games without conceding.
- America de Cali’s last two games have ended in a 4-0 defeat to Independiente Santa Fe and a 1-1 home draw with Tigre.
A clash of styles in Colombia
America de Cali’s high-energy, high-intensity pressing game, that’s all about winning the ball back and getting it forward quickly, will face a stern test when they face Macara, a side that thrives on a compact, low-to-medium block, getting men behind the ball and counter-attacking at breakneck speed in Copa Sudamericana Group A on Friday. In our America de Cali vs Macara prediction, both teams' contrasting styles make for a fascinating tactical battle.
David Gonzalez’s America de Cali have been in decent, if not exceptional form of late, with 2 wins, 2 draws and 1 loss in their last 5 matches in all competitions. Gonzalez, who likes to set up his team in a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3, will have his players get up high on their opponents and press intensely when they can to win the ball in dangerous positions.
Macara, meanwhile, have struggled in recent weeks, winning just 1 of their last 5 in all competitions (D2, L2), but they will arrive in Colombia on the back of a better away record, having won both of their away matches in the group without conceding.
A cagey affair on the cards
Guillermo Sanguinetti’s men are tough to break down when they clog up the center of the pitch and sit deep, which is exactly what they do. Considering the current form of both sides and the tactical nuances involved, this America de Cali vs Macara preview highlights the likelihood of a cautious and tightly contested match. Sanguinetti doesn’t need his players to press as high up the field as America de Cali, so they are much less likely to be caught out in possession, and they will be happy to defend deep and then explode forward if and when they win the ball.
The Colombian side are much more likely to get caught out of possession and in their 4-0 loss they looked completely unorganised. However, their 1-1 draw with Argentinian side Tigre in their previous group game at home was a much more credible effort.
Tight game in the cards?
The last time these sides met in the group stages was in a 1-1 draw at Macara, and this game will likely be just as tight. This America de Cali vs Macara prediction is leaning towards another cautious game given both teams' defensive records and conservative approaches. Back-to-back home defeats, a 3-0 loss to Ecuadorian side Independiente Del Valle and a 0-0 draw with Alianza Atletico, and a recent 2-0 away defeat to Emelec, won’t give much confidence to Macara ahead of this game, but their away record in the group is perfect.
America de Cali have only lost 1 of their 5 group games, and they’re undefeated at home (W1, D1), but Macara are also unbeaten on the road. For America de Cali vs Macara betting tips, one should consider the low-scoring trends and strong defensive setups from both squads. Both sides will want to stay in the group’s top two, so with organisation and structure paramount, a cagey game is expected, with the odds of 3.65 for a tie, under 2.5 goals at 1.65 and both teams to not score at 1.64 too good to ignore.
Jorge Valencia is the top scorer in the group for America de Cali with 2 goals in 5 games, so the Colombian veteran is a good pick up top anytime scorer, while veteran forward Adrian Ramos has 2 goals in America de Cali's last 5 matches. The final America de Cali vs Macara prediction takes into account that Macara are less prolific, but Franco Posse is their main outlet going forward and the Argentine forward has 2 goals in 5 Copa Sudamericana group games to his name. Tomas Angel has been a creative spark for America de Cali this term, providing 2 assists in the group.
