Ñublense aims to pick up its first points in the Copa Libertadores by taking down the current Ecuadorian champion. OnTuesday, the Chilean side will host Aucas of Ecuador as part of Group A’s third matchday, hoping to strike early and shift momentum in the continental competition. The game is set at Ester Roa Rebolledo and centers on a mission to collect valuable points to climb off the bottom of the group and close the gap on leaders Racing, who sit atop the table with a flawless record.
In the most recent outing, Jaime García’s squad fell 2-0 at Flamengo’s Maracanã Stadium after Flamengo’s Pedro netted twice. The defeat left Ñublense chasing answers as they faced a tough start to the tournament, while Flamengo, the defending champions, celebrated their first win of the campaign as Jorge Sampaoli kicked off his tenure in Brazil with a positive result. The match served as a reminder of the strength of the continental powerhouse and highlighted the challenges Ñublense faces in this challenging group.
Heading into the current round, César Farías’ team sits with three points, positioned in the same cluster as Flamengo and Ñublense’s upcoming challenger in the round, while the Ecuadorian side arrives seeking to extend its early-season momentum. The two teams will clash against each other just two days after Flamengo faces the Academy in an away match at Ell Cilindro, underscoring the tight schedule and the relentless pace of CONMEBOL’s group stage. Notably, this marks Ñublense’s seventh participation in CONMEBOL tournaments and their first-ever series of clashes against Chile’s rivals from this competition, an encounter that could reshape the regional narrative for the season.
Domestically, Ñublense has been inconsistent, a noticeable shift from last season when they earned their Libertadores ticket as runners-up behind Colo Colo. Currently sitting near the bottom of their league table with 14 points from 36, they are keen to rebound in the continental arena. Aucas, meanwhile, sits comfortably in a strong position in Ecuador’s Liga Pro, occupying the upper portion of the table and chasing leadership, just two points behind the pace-setting Independiente del Valle. The stakes are high for both sides as they converge on a pivotal group-stage clash that could redefine the path to the knockout rounds.
How to watch the match on TV and online
Ñublense:
Players: Nicholas Perez; Bernardo Cerezo, Rafael Caroca, Nicolas Zalazar, Raimundo Rebolledo; Juan Leiva, Lorenzo Reyes, Manuel Rivera, Jovany Campusano; Bayron Oyarzo and Andres Vilches. Head Coach: Jaime Garcia.
Aucas:
Players: Hernan Galindez; Luis Canga, Dario Aimar, Wilker Angel; Pedro Perlaza, Romulo Otero, Edison Caicedo, Jhonny Quiñónez, Carlos Cuero; John Cifuente and Erick Castillo. Head Coach: Cesar Farías.