The Copa Sudamericana makes a return to action this week as Union and Nacional meet at the Estadio 15 de Abril in the second leg of their round-of-16 tie on Wednesday.
Having claimed a 2-0 victory when the sides met in last week’s reverse fixture, Nacional will be looking to pick up where they dropped off as they eye a spot in the last-eight of the continental showpiece.
Union suffered a huge setback in their Copa Sudamericana title charge last Wednesday when they fell to a 2-0 defeat against Nacional at Estadio Gran Parque Central.
The game became lively in the opening four minutes when Franco Fagundez put the hosts ahead before Leandro Lozano doubled the lead with a 21st-minute goal.
Union had previously cruised through the group staged unbeaten, picking up three wins and three draws while scoring 10 goals and conceding two to finish top of Group H.
Gustavo Munua’s side head into Wednesday’s contest fresh off the back of a 3-0 victory over Lanus in the Argentine Priemera Division, which saw them rise to eighth place in the league standings.
Nacional will be delighted to have announced their Copa Sudamericana arrival in style following their group-stage exit from the Copa Libertadores.
Pablo Repetto’s side pikced up two wins and lost three of their six matches to collect seven points and finish third in Group C, one point off second-placed Velez Sarsfield in the final qualification spot.
The Uruguayan outfit head into Wednesday in solid defensive form, keeping four successive clean sheets while conceding just twice in their last eight matches, with both goals having come in the 2-1 defeat against Danubio FC on June 5.
The Tricolores are currently second in the Primera Division Apertura standings with 28 points from 15 matches, four points behind first-placed Liverpool URU.
Union vs Nacional head to head
The two teams have previously met on just one occasion in the Copa Sudamericana in first leg of their round of 16, where Nacional claimed a 2-0 home victory. They meet for the second time in a competitive match in the second leg of the same tournament.
Nacional 2-0 Union 29/06/22
Union latest home form
Union have recently failed to keep a good run of form at home, having won just two of their seven most recent matches. They managed to defeat Lanus 3-0 in their last home game in the league. In their last five matches, they have scored seven goals and conceded seven.
Union 2-0 Oriente Petrolero 06/05/22
Union 0-0 Fluminense 20/05/22
Union 1-2 Tigre 05/06/22
Union 1-5 River Plate 20/06/22
Union 3-0 Lanus 03/07/22
Union latest away form
Union lost their last away game 2-0 to Nacional in the Copa Sudamericana. However, they have recently been on a good run of form on the road, as they have won each of their previous three matches. In their last five matches, they have scored 10 goals and conceded six.
Junior 0-4 Union 27/05/22
Colon 2-2 Union 12/06/22
Barracas Central 1-2 Union 15/06/22
Boca Juniors 1-2 Union 25/06/22
Nacional 2-0 Union 29/06/22
Nacional latest home form
Nacional have recently been on a good run of form at home, having won each of their five most recent matches. They managed to defeat Union 2-0 in their last home game in the Copa Sudamericana. In their last five matches, they have scored 13 goals and kept clean sheets.
Nacional 2-0 Albion 21/05/22
Nacional 3-0 RB Bragantino 25/05/22
Nacional 3-0 Cerrito 29/05/22
Nacional 3-0 River Plate 19/06/22
Nacional 2-0 Union 29/06/22
Nacional latest away form
Nacional have recently been on a relatively good run of form on the road, having won each of their two most recent matches. They managed to defeat Danubio 1-0 in their last away game in the league. In their last five matches, they have scored five goals and conceded three.
Estudiantes 1-0 Nacional 04/05/22
Defensor Sportng 0-2 Nacional 15/05/22
Danubio 2-1 Nacional 05/06/22
Defensor Sporting 0-1 Nacional 14/06/22
Danubio 0-1 Nacional 25/06/22
Union news
Union will miss the services of forward Jonatan Alves, who is set to sit out his fifth consecutive match after coming off injured against Barracas Central on June 15.
Facundo Aguero was key in Union’s victory over Lanus at the weekend and he should retain his spot at the heart of the defence.
Nacional news
Pablo Repetto will not be able to call upon defender Juan Izquierdo, who has been out of action since February due to a tibia fracture.
His fellow Uruguay international Renzo Sanchez picked up a severe muscle problem in January’s contest against Nublense and he remains out of contention for Nacional.
Prediction and Odds
Nacional are heading into the game carrying the first-leg victory advantage, while Union will hope their home advantage can help in their bid to overturn the deficit.
However, the hosts have managed just one win in their last four matches at the Estadio 15 de Abril. So, we predict a draw.
Odds: 1 2.28 X 2.05 2 2.15
Probable outcomes
Union 0-0 Nacional
Union 1-1 Nacional
Union 2-2 Nacional
Union 0-1 Nacional
Union 1-2 Nacional
