The Libertadores da América stadium in Avellaneda, Argentina will host this Wednesday, December 6, the first match that will decide the 2017 edition of the South American Cup. From 21:45 (Brasília time) the ball rolls to the confrontation between Independiente and Flamengo. The second game is scheduled December 13 in Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro.
The sixteenth edition of Sula marked the inauguration of a new format of the tournament. The number of participants increased to 54 and for the first time the teams that were eliminated from the Libertadores, but were in third place in their groups, were ‘downgraded’ to this species of Continental Second Division.

The recent performance of Independiente
It was not the case of Independiente. A multi-champion of Libertadores, the club did not get a place in the main tournament of South America through the Argentine Championship. Thus, it disputed the Sula from its first phase.
It began without any brilliance and had more work than one might expect to confirm its favoritism against the Alliance of Peru. They tied it at home, scoreless, and only saved their survival by scoring 1-0 in Lima.
The situation became more relaxed in the second phase. Against the Chileans of Deportes Iquique, Independiente scored 4 to 2 in Argentina and won again with the visitor. 2 – 1 was the score after the first half.
In the round of 16 he had a local duel. He lost the first match, by 1 to 0, to Atletico Tucumán, in the opponent’s stadium. But he managed to turn the tables by winning the second game 2-0.
In the quarter-finals, he had the calmer definition of confrontation. He thrashed the Nacional in Paraguay 4-1. Then, at home, he won again 2-0, eliminating the team responsible for taking the South American Cruise.
In the semifinals, another Paraguayan was a victim of Independiente. However, Nacional has much more work. He defeated Asunción by 1-0. He fell 3-1 in Argentina. The return match, held on November 28, was the last of the Argentines. Benefiting from the calendar, they were able to prepare for Sula’s decision since they had no commitments in the local tournament.
In the Argentine Championship, Independiente is seventh with 18 points (five wins, three draws and two losses). They are nine less than the Boca Junior, leader.

The current form of Flamengo

Flamengo’s South American campaign began as a consolation prize for not having achieved the qualification for the second phase of the Copa Libertadores. However, the defeat of red-black in the final of the Brazilian Cup against Cruzeiro and the weak campaign in the Brasileirão, ended up becoming the only hope of avoiding that the season 2017 is classified like failed.
Flamengo’s participation in the Brasileirão ended on Sunday, December 3. In Salvador, the Cariocas defeated Vitoria, turning 2-1. They completed their participation in sixth place with 56 points (15 wins, 11 draws and 12 losses). Enough to secure the right to play in the group stage of the Libertadores in 2018.
This takes some of the pressure before the final, since if it had not obtained the vacancy in the continental tournament through the Brasileirão, the decision would turn into a sort of all or nothing. To reach the title will count on the cheer of two traditional rivals. If you keep the Sula Cup, Flamengo will open for Vasco in the Libertadores group stage and will open space for Atlético-MG to participate in the qualifying round of the tournament.
The hope of having striker Paolo Guerrero for the decision was decimated by Fifa (International Football Federation). The athlete was spotted on an anti-doping test for the use of irregular substance when he was serving the Peruvian team in the qualifiers for the 2018 World Cup in Russia. He was suspended preventively for 30 days. The punishment is over, but the entity has decided to extend the period for another 10 days until its decision on the case is announced.
Thus, Felipe Vizeu, the top scorer of the South American Cup with five goals scored, will remain in charge. The strengthening of the club for decision should be striker Everton, who stayed approximately one month out due to the injury. Most probably will be released already for the first match.

History of the bouts between Independiente and Flamengo
The teams record 14 matches throughout history. The red-blacks won seven of them. The Argentines won three times and the draws were four.

Having the possibility to make a more adequate preparation for the first game and relying on the favor field in your favor, the Independiente is the best guessing option. It has a price of 2.05 in Rivalo. Draw shows a return of 3,10 and red-black success quadruples the investment.

Tip for Independiente – Flamengo :

-Independiente win @ 2.05