- Olimpia are unbeaten at home in the Copa Sudamericana (W1, D1).
- Olimpia have conceded just 1 goal in 2 home group games.
- Audax have conceded 2 goals in their 2 away group games.
An exciting game is expected in Paraguay
The Olimpia Asuncion vs Audax Italiano Santiago prediction is attracting a lot of attention as Olimpia Asuncion are the runaway leaders of Copa Sudamericana Group G with 10 points from 5 matches.
The leaders also boast the best form coming into this game, having won 4 of their last 5 matches in all competitions, including a 3-1 victory over Vasco da Gama in their home opener in this group.
Audax Italiano Santiago are in a precarious position in third place with 7 points, but they’re still in with a chance of qualifying for the knockout round.
They head into this clash in mixed form having won 2, drawn 1 and lost 2 of their last 5 in all competitions, although they have won 2 on the trot, both at home.
Goals expected with two contrasting styles on the pitch
Audax Italiano play a very different way to Olimpia, favouring a 3-4-2-1 formation, with their wingbacks providing width and half-space overloads to try and get at teams.
They can be reactive at times, especially when put under pressure, but Gustavo Lema’s men like to stretch the play and create chances from wide areas in the final third.
Olimpia boss Pablo Andres Sanchez has a bit more flexibility in his 4-3-3/3-5-2 system, which allows for sudden vertical transitions and a collective pressing system that often leaves opponents scrambling to recover after a turnover.
Our Olimpia Asuncion vs Audax Italiano Santiago preview suggests Olimpia’s experience of Chilean football could be a hidden subplot, as Sanchez knows exactly how to stop the visitors’ gameplan, while Lema’s team will know exactly how to play against a familiar opponent.
Olimpia can get the job done
Olimpia’s pressing style has made them a very hard team to play against on home soil, and the Olimpia Asuncion vs Audax Italiano Santiago prediction points to a home victory for the group leaders, considering Audax's away record and Olimpia’s home form.
While Audax are unbeaten away from home in the group stage (W1, D1), Olimpia won the reverse fixture between these two teams 2-0 away from home six weeks ago.
Sanchez’s men have won back-to-back games at home and can get the win here, while I expect an exciting match with the knockout stages of Group G on the line. Over 2.5 goals and both teams to score look likely with 1.83 and 1.8 odds, respectively, while Olimpia are worth a wager at 1.62.
This is why our Olimpia Asuncion vs Audax Italiano Santiago betting tips favor the home side to get the job done as both teams aim for qualification.
Alex Franco is Olimpia’s top-scorer in the group with one goal in four games, usually coming off the center to create chances, while Audax’s Daniel Pina also has one in five.
Diego Coelho has been in good form for Audax, with two of the team’s last five goals coming via his boot across all competitions.
