Nublense play host to fellow Chilean club Audax Italiano at the Estadio Municipal de Concepcion for the first leg of their Copa Sudamericana last-32 tie on Thursday.
The two teams are separated by just one point in the Chilean Primera Division, with Audax in 11th place sitting two spots above Nublense in 13th.
Match preview
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Nublense were forced to settle for a third-placed finish in their first-ever Copa Libertadores group-stage campaign after winning just one of their six games in Group A, and they will now continue their continental journey in the knockout rounds of the Copa Sudamericana.
The Red Devils enter Thursday's contest having failed to win any of their last six matches in all competitions, including a slender 1-0 home loss to Union Espanola in the Chilean Primera Division last Friday courtesy of a 90th-minute strike from Diego Acevedo.
Jaime Garcia's side, who secured promotion to the Chilean top flight just three years ago, finished second in the table last season, but they now find themselves languishing in 13th place after losing eight of their 16 matches so far this term, sitting only five points above the relegation zone.
Nublense's hopes of returning to winning ways and ending their three-game goal drought on Thursday could prove challenging, as they have only won three of their last 11 games on home soil since early March.
The solid away form of Audax Italiano, who have lost just one of their last eight matches on the road in all tournaments, will also be a concern for Nublense.
Audax have failed to win their last three games, though, including back-to-back defeats without reply at home against O'Higgins and Palestino – losing 3-0 to the latter last Friday.
Luca Marcogiuseppe's men began the campaign in the Copa Sudamericana group stage and have successfully advanced to the knockout rounds after finishing second in Group E behind winners Newell's Old Boys.
After losing their opening group-stage game to Newell's Old Boys by a 1-0 scoreline, Audax picked up 11 points from their next five matches to claim a top-two spot and reach the round-of-32 for the first time in their history.
Audax will be confident of success on Thursday as they have won their last two visits to Nublense, with a 2-1 victory in July last year followed by a 5-2 triumph in April of this year.
Team News
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Rafael Caroca and Nicolas Zalazar were forced to sit out of Nublense's final Copa Libertadores group-stage match due to suspension, but the centre-back duo are available to return on Thursday and will likely start with Bernardo Cerezo in a back three.
Top scorer Patricio Rubio has netted all seven of his goals this season on home soil and the 34-year-old is expected to lead the line along with either Andres Vilches or Bayron Oyarzo.
As for Audax Italiano, they are still having to cope without defender Fabian Torres who has been sidelined since the end of February with a ligament injury.
Carlos Labrin and Osvaldo Bosso are therefore set to continue at centre-back in between full-backs Nicolas Fernandez and Roberto Cereceda, while Tomas Ahumada should retain his spot between the sticks.
Gonzalo Sosa has scored 12 goals in all competitions so far this season, including four strikes in seven Copa Sudamericana matches, and the experienced striker is expected to start up front, with Gabriel Hachen set to provide support from an advanced midfield role.
Nublense possible starting lineup:
Perez; Cerezo, Caroca, Zalazar; Rebolledo, Leiva, Reyes, Henrique, Campusano; Vilches, Rubio
Audax Italiano possible starting lineup:
Ahumada; Fernandez, Labrin, Bosso, Cereceda; Rios, Juarez, Diaz, Fuentes; Hachen; Sosa
We say: Nublense 0-1 Audax Italiano
There is little to separate these two teams and a closely-fought contest could be on the cards on Thursday, but Audax have come out on top in the previous two meetings with Nublense and we believe that they will do just enough to claim a slender first-leg victory.
No Data Analysis info
Oliver Thomas
