Prediction: Independiente del Valle to win 2-1
Best Odds: 13/2
Independiente del Valle and Vasco da Gama will lock horns with each other in the CONMEBOL Sudamericana this week. The first leg of the knockout round playoff tie between Javier Rabanal’s side and Fernando Diniz’s team will be held at Estadio Banco Guayaquil in Quito and is scheduled to kick off at 1:30am UK time on Wednesday.
Independiente del Valle
Independiente del Valle are a major club in Ecuador who have been hugely successful in recent years. Los Negriazules finished runners-up in the 2023 Ecuadorian Serie A campaign and won their first league title in 2021.
Matagigantes have done well in CONMEBOL competitions. On their way to reaching the final of the 2016 Copa Libertadores, Independiente del Valle famously got the better of Argentine powerhouses River Plate and Boca Juniors. They won the Copa Sudamericana in 2019 and again in 2022.
Independiente del Valle will head into the tie against Vasco da Gama on the back of a 2-1 victory over Macara in LigaPro Ecuador. It came after a 1-1 draw with Barcelona SC in LigaPro Ecuador, which followed a 3-0 victory over Universidad Católica (Quito) in the league.
Team News:
Independiente del Valle are likely to line up in a 4-1-4-1 formation. Guido Villar will be in goal. Matias Fernandez, Luis Zarate, Andy Velasco and Gustavo Cortez will be the four defenders. Jordy Alcivar will be deployed in holding midfield. Renato Ibarra, Darwin Guagua, Patrik Mercado and Emerson Pata will be the attacking midfielders. Michael Hoyos will lead the line for the home team.
Vasco da Gama
Vasco da Gama are a big club in Brazil and have a rich history, but they have not been doing well lately. Gigante da Colina ended up as low as 10th in the 2024 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A table and third in the 2024 Campeonato Carioca standings.
Fernando Diniz’s side are not having the best of times at the 2025 Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A at the moment. Vasco currently fifth themselves 14th in the standings with 13 points from 13 matches, two points above the relegation zone.
Vasco da Gama will head into the CONMEBOL Sudamericana game against Independiente del Valle this week on the back of a 2-0 defeat to Botafogo at home in the Brazilian Serie A, which came after a 3-1 victory over Sao Paulo on the road in the league. It followed a 2-0 loss to Red Bull Bragantino in the league.
Team News:
Vasco da Gama are likely to line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Leo Jardim will be in goal for the Brazilian club and will have Paulo Henrique, Joao Victor, Lucas Freitas and Lucas Piton in front of him in defence. Tche Tche and Hugo Moura will be the two holding midfielders. Rayan Rocha, Philippe Coutinho and Nuno Moreira will be the three attacking midfielders. Pablo Vegetti will lead the line for Vasco da Gama.
Key Factors to Consider
- Independiente del Valle are at the top of the 2025 Ecuadorian Serie A table with 40 points from 20 matches.
- Independiente del Valle have scored 35 goals and given 19 assists in 20 2025 Ecuadorian Serie A games.
- Vasco da Gama scored 8 goals in 6 2025 Copa Sudamericana group stage matches.
- Vasco da Gama conceded 8 goals in 6 2025 Copa Sudamericana group stage matches.
- Vasco da Gama have scored 14 goals and given 18 assists in 2025 Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A matches.
Conclusion
Playing at home will give Independiente del Valle an advantage, and they are likely to eke out a narrow win against Vasco da Gama in the first leg of the tie.
Prediction: Independiente del Valle to win 2-1
Best Odds: 13/2
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