Preview: Deportivo Tachira vs. Internacional - prediction, team news, lineups

Deportivo Tachira have an opportunity to move into first place in Group B of the Copa Libertadores on Tuesday when they host Internacional at Estadio Polideportivo de Pueblo Nuevo.

The Venezuelans are hoping for a bit of payback against Colorado, who beat them 4-0 in Brazil in their second match of the group stage.

Match preview

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In their first appearance in the group stage of this competition since 2016, Deportivo are right in the thick of a tight race to make it into the knockout phase.

They bounced back nicely from their opening match defeat to beat the defending Bolivian champions Always Ready 2-0 in La Paz.

That should give Aurinegro a big psychological boost heading into matchday four, especially since they failed to win any of their group stage matches away from home in 2016.

Since the arrival of Juan Tolisano, the Venezuelan side have enjoyed a lot of success domestically, losing on away goals to Caracas in the 2019 league final and coming up just short at the same spot last season 2-0 against Deportivo La Guaira.

So far his side have had a decent run of results domestically, winning three of their four fixtures, including a 2-0 win at home to Trujillanos FC last weekend.

For Internacional lately, they have either won big or narrowly lost in their three matches in this tournament.

It started with a 2-0 defeat against Always Ready, but they recovered nicely to beat Deportivo 4-0 and crush Olimpia 6-1.

In their last seven games, they have found another gear when it comes to scoring, as their previous four victories in all competitions have been by three goals or more.

Under manager Miguel Angel Ramirez, the Brazilians have a variety of attacking threats that can do some damage as six different players have found the back of the net to this point of the competition.

Team News

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Goalkeeper Cristopher Varela has been very busy for the Venezuelan side up to this point in the competition, facing 19 shots and conceding six goals.

They will be relying on the experience of striker Edgar Perez Greco, who scored twice for Aurinegro in the 2016 group stage, helping them reach the round of 16.

Yuri Alberto, Thiago Galhardo and Victor Cuesta each have two goals in their last two games of this competition in what has been an impressive display of offence for the Brazilians.

Central midfielder Edenilson scored his first goal in the competition on matchday three, as he seeks his second Copa Libertadores title, having captured the crown in 2012 with Corinthians.

Deportivo Tachira possible starting lineup:
Varela; Granados, Trejo, Vivas, Camacho; Gondola, Cova, Flores, Hernandez; Perez Greco, Gomez

Internacional possible starting lineup:
Lomba; Saravia, Gabriel, Cuesta, Moises; Edenilson, Dourado; Guilherme, Taison, Mauricio; Galhardo

We say: Deportivo Tachira 2-4 Internacional

Losing their first match of this competition appears to have lit a fire under Internacional, who have looked almost unstoppable since then, winning four of their last five games in all competitions, scoring 19 times while conceding only three.

Deportivo have not lost this season at home, but their opponents have too many weapons who can beat you, and the Venezuelans could have their hands full trying to keep up.