- Racing Club have won four of their last five games and conceded only once.
- Independiente Petrolero have been in mixed form in the Bolivian Primera División.
- Independiente Petrolero’s goalkeeper Jhohan Gutiérrez was outstanding in their Sudamericana qualifying play-off.
Racing’s class to show in the Andean altitude
There has never been a meeting between Independiente Petrolero and Racing Club in a competitive fixture, so there’s no history to draw upon when selecting an Independiente Petrolero vs Racing Club prediction for Tuesday’s Copa Sudamericana Group E clash. The early points in the group can be crucial and whichever team takes them will either establish Racing as the favorites to top the group or an upset win by Petrolero will blow it wide open.
Altitude will be a factor here in Sucre and the 2,800m elevation at Estadio Olímpico Patria will be difficult for Racing Club to overcome. The home team are an unknown quantity to many, but their qualification for the group stage of the Sudamericana is a milestone for the club.
Petrolero played out a tense 0-0 draw with Guabirá in the play-off round and then won on penalties with poise and crucial saves from goalkeeper Jhohan Gutiérrez. Our Independiente Petrolero vs Racing Club prediction suggests that they tend to set up with a compact, deep structure and look to soak up pressure, then grab a goal off a set-piece or a swift counter-attack when they can, especially at Sucre’s high altitude.
Petrolero’s players are still learning Cardozo’s ways
Thiago Leitão, who took charge in March, is still getting the squad to understand his tactical tweaks and the players are adapting to his methods. They can be dangerous on the counter when they get it right, but have been inconsistent in their domestic league.
The Independiente Petrolero vs Racing Club preview highlights that Racing come into this game in good form and will be a huge name in Group E when compared to Petrolero, who are celebrating qualification for the competition. Gustavo Costas’ team sit in the upper half in Argentina’s Liga Profesional Zona B division and have strung together some solid defensive performances recently.
They have won four of their last five matches and conceded just one goal in that span, with Adrián Martínez recently netting a brace in a 2-0 win. Martínez is their most reliable and creative player in the attacking third, but the loss of left-back Gabriel Rojas to injury has left a gaping hole in their defense and they may have to rejig the back four.
Racing to get the job done in Sucre
Racing are a possession-based team, they press in numbers and usually control the pace of play while also stretching the opposition with width. This Independiente Petrolero vs Racing Club prediction highlights that they can dictate play and it won’t be easy for them in the altitude, but their quality should be enough to overcome Petrolero, who are being paid 4.6 to pull off a huge upset.
The best bet here is to take Racing’s solidity and go for the BTTS - No option at 2.25, but the Independiente Petrolero vs Racing Club betting tips recommend also having a play on Over 2.5 goals at 1.62 because this could be a long, tough evening for the visitors.
