Sports Mole previews Thursday's Copa Libertadores clash between Deportivo Tachira and Always Ready, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Group B is all to play for with two games to go in the Copa Libertadores, with all four teams level on six points each.

Deportivo Tachira host Always Ready on Wednesday evening as both teams aim to put themselves in a controlling position in the group going into the final gameweek.

Match preview

Always Ready's Fernando Saucedo celebrates scoring their first goal with teammates in April 2021 © Reuters

Deportivo Tachira will look to make it three home wins out of three in the group stage with a victory after beating Olimpia and Internacional at the Estadio Polideportivo de Pueblo Nuevo in this year's tournament.

A 2-1 victory over Internacional in their last Copa Libertadores outing kept them in the mix for a top-two finish in their first time back in the competition since 2016.

The Brazilian side took the lead from the penalty spot early in the second half before being stunned by two late goals scored by Nelson Hernandez and Maurice Cova, earning the three points for Aurinegro.

Juan Tolisano's side have been in impressive form in the league this season, currently sitting top of the Venezuelan Primera Division after winning four of their first five matches.

However, their away record in the Copa Libertadores has not been good this season, including a 2-0 defeat against this week's opponents Always Ready.

The Bolivian side dominated the game, registering 29 goal attempts which resulted in two goals, with forwards Marcos Ovejero and John Mosquera scoring.

Like the home side, Always Ready's wins have both come at home yet they have only played one away game, which they narrowly lost to Olimpia 2-1 due to a late comeback from the Paraguayan team.

Omar Asad's side will be desperate to advance through the group stage and into the last 16 as this is only the second time that they have ever played in the Copa Libertadores, with their first being back in 1968.

La Banda Roja have had a mediocre start to the Liga de Futbol Profesional Boliviano season with only eight points after six games, including no win in their last three games.

Deportivo Tachira Copa Libertadores form:

Deportivo Tachira form (all competitions):

Always Ready Copa Libertadores form:

Always Ready form (all competitions):

Team News

Thirty-nine-year-old captain Edgar Perez Greco was left out of the squad on Sunday after being taken off during the Internacional game, and it is still unknown whether this is just a precaution or due to a longer-term injury.

Hernandez replaced the attacking midfielder last week and may push for a start this weekend after scoring from the bench.

Elsewhere, Juan Tolisano will need to make a decision at left-back with Jose Granados seemingly favoured in the Copa Libertadores but youngster Naicol Contreras continuing to impress at the weekend in the league.

The away side will most likely continue using four at the back, with defender Harold Cummings being ruled out due to an injury that he sustained in training.

The three centre-backs of Cummings, Nelson Cabrera and Enrique Flores impressed last time they played Deportivo Tachira, limiting the side to just one shot on target, and so the visitors will hope Cummings's injury is not too serious.

Alfredo Aguilar seems to have been given the nod over goalkeeper Gaston Oliveira, who conceded 10 goals in the opening three matches of this competition.

Deportivo Tachira possible starting lineup:
Varela; Granados, Trejo, Vivas, Camacho; Gondola, Cova, Flores, Hernandez; Covea, Gomez

Always Ready possible starting lineup:
Lampe; Flores, Cabrera, Enoumba, Rodriguez; Machado, Saucedo, Arce; Ovejero, Mosquera, Ramallo

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We say: Deportivo Tachira 2-1 Always Ready

Juan Tolisano's side have been in fine form at home in this competition and will look to make it three wins out of three this Wednesday.

The injury to Cummings for Always Ready could prove pivotal for Omar Asad's team, who had successfully kept the opposition out last time they played.

Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting a double chance bet on a home win or an away win in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.

Data Analysis

Our analysis of all available data, including recent performances and player stats up until an hour before kickoff, suggested the most likely outcome of this match was a Deportivo Tachira win with a probability of 58.04%. A draw had a probability of 22.2% and a win for Always Ready had a probability of 19.73%.

The most likely scoreline for a Deportivo Tachira win was 1-0 with a probability of 10.45%. The next most likely scorelines for that outcome were 2-1 (9.93%) and 2-0 (9.88%). The likeliest drawn scoreline was 1-1 (10.5%), while for an Always Ready win it was 0-1 (5.56%). The actual scoreline of 7-2 was predicted with a 0% likelihood. Our data analysis correctly predicted that Deportivo Tachira would win this match.