Deportivo Cuenca vs Jorge Wilstermann Predictions, Betting Tips and Match Previews

Thursday’s Copa Sudamericana second round, first leg action sees Ecuadorians Deportivo Cuenca playing host to Bolivians Jorge Wilstermann. The home side will be looking to open up an advantage ahead of a tricky looking second leg in Bolivia.

It’s fair to say 2018 has been a fairly miserable year for Deportivo Cuenca so far but things are finally starting to pick up under current boss Richard Páez. The side won just 1 of their opening 16 domestic matches, leaving them looking in deep relegation trouble, but 4 wins from the last 6 matches under Paez now has them in a far more comfortable looking position going into the closing phase of the Ecuadorian campaign.

El Rojo’s 2-0 win at opening phase champions LDU Quito over the weekend says everything you need to know about their upturn in performance levels and those that take to the field will be desperate to maintain said improvement on the continental stage. Cuenca needed penalties to see off Paraguayans Sportivo Luqueno to reach this point but will have to be at their very best to have any hope of eliminating Wilsterman. That’s because, unlike Cuenca, the visitors are enjoying a sublime campaign so far. El Aviador were far from favourites to lift the opening phase of Bolivian action but that’s exactly what they did, with some stunning performances seeing them crowned champions.

As such, Alvaro Pena’s men arrive with real momentum behind them, having won 13 of their last 15 outings overall. However, having been dumped out of the Libertadores earlier on in the year, thanks to a 4-0 away defeat at Brazilians Vasco, improving a simply dreadful continental away record that reads 9 defeats from the last 12 matches is going to be imperative if the side are to advance as expected but represents a big challenge given the high altitude advantage they have when playing at home in Cochabamba which is absent on the road.

Ultimately, there can be little doubting Wilstermann are the favourites to advance overall given their current condition, but most of their work will surely be done in a second leg they are all but certain to win.

Taking this match as a standalone fixture, we really like the look of backing Deportivo Cuenca to win, irrespective of Wilstermann’s strong form. The visitors have been simply horrendous on the road in continental action year after year and with Cuenca in much improved form, we think they can secure a narrow victory, with a 1-0 home win on the cards.