Palestino vs Deportivo Riestra – News and Probable Lineups

As they face off on Tuesday night at the Municipal de La Cisterna in the final round of Group F, both Palestino and Deportivo Riestra will aim to conclude their underwhelming Copa Sudamericana campaigns on a high note.

Although neither team can progress to the knockout stages, both sides will be intent on preserving their pride and gaining momentum ahead of the second half of the domestic season.

Match overview

Currently, Palestino sits at the bottom of the group, having accumulated only two points from five matches, while Deportivo Riestra occupies third place with four points following a challenging continental journey.

Palestino’s exit from the tournament was sealed after a 2-0 loss to Gremio away in Porto Alegre, marking their winless streak in this competition to five matches (D2, L3).

The Chilean team has faced significant challenges in attack throughout the group stage, netting only two goals across five games while failing to score in four of them.

The Arab club also endured a close 1-0 loss to Montevideo City Torque earlier in the tournament, but their goalless draw against Gremio in La Cisterna stood out as one of the few defensive positives in an otherwise disappointing international campaign. Nonetheless, there have been more promising signs domestically in recent weeks.

Heading into this match, Palestino has triumphed in three of their last four league fixtures in Chile, with victories against Union La Calera (2-1), Deportes Limache (3-2), and a commanding 5-1 win over Deportes La Serena.

These performances indicate a significantly sharper attacking edge compared to their continental efforts, and the hosts will hope their home advantage allows them to convert that form into a Copa Sudamericana victory.

Meanwhile, Deportivo Riestra arrives with mathematically impossible qualification after a series of disappointing results during the latter group phase.

The Argentine side faced consecutive heavy defeats against Gremio (3-0) and Montevideo City Torque (4-1), conceding a total of seven goals in those matches, which eliminated them from contention.

They briefly revived their hopes with a 2-1 win over Montevideo City Torque earlier in the group stage, but inconsistency ultimately proved detrimental.

Defensively, they have struggled throughout the competition, allowing nine goals over five matches—the second highest in Group F.

The initial meeting between these teams ended in a stalemate without goals in April, highlighting the lack of attacking quality demonstrated by both clubs for extended periods during this continental campaign; however, recent domestic form indicates this rematch might be more entertaining.

Although Riestra remains a tough opponent to penetrate at times, they travel to Chile having secured just one win in their last five matches across all competitions (D1, L3), although a 2-0 league win over Independiente demonstrated their ability to deliver disciplined performances away from home.

Team News

Despite their elimination, Palestino is poised to field a strong squad, with Sebastian Perez remaining in goal and a defensive lineup of Ian Alegria, Vicente Espinoza, Enzo Roco, and Jason Leon.

Julian Fernandez and Gallegos are predicted to manage midfield, while Ronnie Fernandez is expected to lead the attack as the hosts seek their first group-stage win.

Deportivo Riestra is likewise anticipated to maintain a consistent lineup, with Ignacio Arce likely starting in goal, supported by defenders Juan Randazzo, Mariano Bracamonte, and Cristian Paz.

Nicolas Watson and Pablo Monje are expected to anchor midfield, while Jonathan Herrera is projected to spearhead the attacking effort.

Palestino probable starting XI:

Perez; Garguez, Espinoza, Roco, Zuniga; Montes, Fernandez, Gallegos; Benirez, Da Silva, Munder.

Deportivo Riestra probable starting XI:

Arce; Sansotre, Randazzo, Mino, Gallo, Obredor; Goitia, Watson, Monje; Smarra, Alonso.

Both teams have faced challenging Copa Sudamericana campaigns, but Palestino seems to carry a slight advantage into the final round thanks to their enhanced domestic performance and home field support.

The defensive vulnerabilities of Deportivo Riestra have been glaring in recent matches, while Palestino appears more confident in their attacking play within Chilean competitions. With neither team under significant pressure, this fixture could turn out to be more open compared to their first encounter.