Rosario Central vs Corinthians    (half-lost)

Rosario Central qualified from the group stage with four wins, one draw and one defeat, collecting 13 points. Their overall campaign was stronger than that of Corinthians, who finished with three wins, two draws and one defeat for 11 points. Rosario Central have also shown a clear improvement in recent weeks, recording consecutive victories over River Plate and Aldosivi. Those results have eased the pressure on head coach Jorge Almirón and improved both morale and the atmosphere inside the dressing room.

In attack, Rosario Central can rely on Ángel Di María, Jaminton Campaz and Enzo Copetti. Di María operates from the right, taking responsibility for ball progression, set pieces and the final pass. Campaz can cut inside from the opposite flank, while Copetti provides physical presence and finishing inside the penalty area. Rosario scored nine goals in the group stage, with Di María, Copetti and Ignacio Ovando contributing two each. Three other players also found the net, showing that the hosts possess several scoring options and are not entirely dependent on Di María.

Corinthians have plenty of experience in midfield and defence, with goalkeeper Hugo Souza supported by players such as Gabriel Paulista and Gustavo Henrique. However, their attacking options have been severely reduced. First-choice striker Yuri Alberto is injured and did not travel to Argentina, while Memphis Depay has left the club after talks over a new contract collapsed. Kaio César is also dealing with thigh discomfort after a demanding run of fixtures.

That leaves Pedro Raul and youngster Gui Negão as the main centre-forward options. As a result, Corinthians are likely to lose some pace on the counterattack and efficiency inside the penalty area.

The visitors can still rely on Rodrigo Garro to organise their transitions. The midfielder was directly involved in four of Corinthians’ eight group-stage goals. However, without Yuri Alberto and Memphis ahead of him, Garro’s creativity may not be converted into clear chances as effectively. Corinthians are therefore likely to defend in a compact shape and attempt to take a manageable result back to São Paulo.

Considering the home advantage, recent form, group-stage performance and greater squad availability, Rosario Central have the necessary conditions to control the match and win the first leg.

Pick: Rosario Central -0.25