Coquimbo Unido hosts Deportes Tolima on Tuesday, May 19, at the Estádio Francisco Sánchez Rumoroso, in a match valid for the fifth round of Group B of the Copa Libertadores. Both teams arrive tied with seven points, but the Colombians lead thanks to Conmebol's tiebreaker criteria, after winning the first leg 3-0 in Ibagué at the end of April.
The group is quite balanced: Universitario (Peru) and Nacional (Uruguay) each have four points. A win for either side could virtually guarantee qualification for the round of 16.
Coquimbo's coach, Hernán Caputto, highlighted the team's preparation: "We had tough, difficult matches. We said we would have to face them, we said we would be prepared, and the team worked, was up to the task." The aurinegros have the home factor in their favor, where they were strong in the competition — they beat the Peruvians and drew with Nacional in the opener. In the last round of the Chilean Championship, they thrashed Audax Italiano 3-0, moving up to fifth place.
Meanwhile, Tolima, led by Lucas González, lost on Saturday to Atlético Nacional 1-0, in the first leg of the Colombian Championship semifinals. However, in the Libertadores, the Colombian team beat Nacional of Uruguay 3-0 at home in the fourth round. The goals from winger Jersson González and striker Luis Sandoval were decisive in the first leg against the Chileans.
In the last round of Group B, scheduled for May 26, Coquimbo will visit Nacional in Montevideo, while Tolima will face Universitario away from home.