📋 Liberta knockouts: Botafogo v LDU line-ups at Nilton Santos | OneFootball

It's Copa Libertadores night at Nilton Santos.

Current champion Botafogo and LDU face off starting at 7pm (Brasília time).

First leg of the round of 16 of the competition.

The return match will be next Thursday (21) in Quito.

And whoever advances will face São Paulo or Atlético Nacional - the first leg was 0-0.

Head-to-head history 🆚

Botafogo and LDU have already faced each other four times.

In 2023, the matches were for Group A of the Copa Sudamericana. Both ended goalless.

The Ecuadorian team advanced in 1st place and eventually became champions over Fortaleza.

The Glorious team, on the other hand, needed the playoffs and fell to Defensa y Justicia in the quarterfinals.

Last year, the matches were for Group C of the Libertadores. Each team won when they were at home.

The Glorious team advanced in second place and made history by becoming champions.

LDU, on the other hand, got a spot in the Sudamericana and stopped in the round of 16 against Lanús.

Botafogo ⭐

The Glorious team advanced in second place in Group A.

And went through intense changes. Davide Ancelotti took over after Renato Paiva's dismissal. The trio Jair, Gregore, and Igor Jesus was sold.

Danilo, the latest reinforcement, Montoro, and Artur Cabral are among the new trumps.

Italian coach Ancelotti still doesn't have Kaio Pantaleão, Bastos, and Cuiabano.

But Marlon Freitas returns after serving the concussion protocol.

The starting lineup is: John; Vitinho, Barboza, David Ricardo, and Alex Telles; Danilo, Marlon Freitas, and Savarino; Artur, Arthur Cabral, and Montoro.

LDU 🇪🇨

The Ecuadorian team led Group C, leaving Flamengo in second place.

And deals with the absence of Alex Arce, who arrived at the club from Independiente Rivadavia and was traded to the Argentine team last month.

Brazilian coach Tiago Nunes, that ex-Botafogo, again has the defender Ricardo Adé.

Reference of the defensive system, the Haitian was spared in the last round of the local league - a defeat to Aucas.

The hope for goals lies with Alzugaray, who has nine in 2025.

LDU is, with 43 points, the third-placed team in the Ecuadorian Apertura.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.