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Fortaleza will host Rosario Central at the Estadio Castelao on Wednesday in the second leg of their 2024 Copa Sudamericana last-16 clash. The home side are enjoying a brilliant run of form at the moment and are making a surprise push for the Brasileirao Serie A title, but will now break from that to focus on their continental duties this week.
They faced Libertad at this stage of the competition last season, picking up a 2-1 aggregate victory over the Paraguayan outfit and will hope they can find similar luck here as well.
Meanwhile, Rosario Central have struggled for results in their domestic assignments in recent weeks and will hope a change of scenery this week can spur a change of fortune for the remainder of the season. They last appeared at this stage of the Copa Sudamericana back in 2021, facing Deportivo in a two-legged clash which they won 2-1 on aggregate.
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Fortaleza and Rosario played out a 1-1 draw in their first-leg clash last week, with Marinho opening the scoring for the Brazilian side just two minutes after kick-off before their opponents leveled the scores minutes later.
The two sides will lock horns this week knowing the winner of their matchup will advance to the quarterfinals of the competition.
Fortaleza vs Rosario Central Head-to-Head and Key Numbers
- Wednesday's game will mark just the second meeting between Fortaleza and Rosario following their debut matchup last week.
- The visitors are without a clean sheet in their last three games across all competitions and have managed just two in their last eight.
- Fortaleza have scored 16 goals in the Copa Sudamericana so far this season. Only Independiente Medellin (18) and Athletico Paranaense (22) have scored more.
- Three of the Canalla's four league defeats this season have come on the road.
Fortaleza vs Rosario Central Prediction
Fortaleza are on a brilliant 10-game unbeaten streak, picking up eight wins in that period. They have won their last 11 home matches and will be looking to extend that streak come Wednesday.
Rosario Central have lost two of their last three games and have won just two of their last eight. They have struggled for results on the road of late and could see defeat here.
Prediction: Fortaleza 1-0 Rosario Central
Fortaleza vs Rosario Central Betting Tips
Tip 1 - Result: Fortaleza to win
Tip 2 - Goals - Over/under 2.5 - Under 2.5 goals (Eight of the visitors' last nine matches have produced fewer than 2.5 goals)
Tip 3 - Both teams to score: NO (Both sides have found the back of the net in just two of the visitors' last seven matches)
