Independiente del Valle and Argentinos Juniors will be fighting for top spot in Group E of the Copa Libertadores when they meet in Sangolqui on Thursday.

The two sides have already secured their qualification for the knockout stage with a game to spare.

Match preview

Ecuadorian side Independiente - who have overseen the development of the likes of Moises Caicedo and Piero Hincapie in recent years - continue to establish themselves on the continental stage, having become one of the few two-time Copa Sudamericana winners by defeating Sao Paulo in the final last season.

Los Negriazules are currently embarking on their eighth appearance at the Copa Libertadores, too, having finished as runners-up in 2016. Head coach Martin Anselmi will be hoping to go one step further this time around.

The Ecuadorians require all three points to displace Argentinos Jrs at the top of their group, which in theory would provide them with a more winnable tie against runners-up from another group at the last-16 stage.

With his side four points clear at the top of the Ecuadorian Serie A, which the club have only won once in their history, Anselmi and his players appear set for an extremely successful campaign regardless of Thursday's result.

Argentinos Jrs, meanwhile, will almost certainly not be winning Argentina's Primera Division for the fourth time in the club's history given that River Plate have a healthy 10-point cushion at the top of the table.

However, they remain on course to challenge for the Copa Libertadores, which they have only won once back in 1985, with former Barcelona defender Gabriel Milito guiding his side through to the knockout stages with a game to spare.

El Bicho find themselves in eighth position in their domestic table, which is exactly where they finished last season, while they will face Patronato next month for a place in the last 16 of their domestic cup.

Milito will be keen for his players to maintain their unbeaten record in the Copa Libertadores, having won three and drawn two of their opening five games, which would ensure that they seal top spot in style.

Team News

Independiente will remain without Richard Schunke due to a knee injury, but otherwise Anselmi appears to have a fully-fit squad at his disposal.

Michael Hoyos will be expecting to lead the line once again after bagging twice during his side's 3-0 victory against Corinthians in the hosts' last match in this competition.

Argentinos, meanwhile, will travel without Lucas Ambrogio and Facundo Ferreyra due to long-term knee and calf issues respectively.

Gabriel Avalos could start up front after bagging a brace against Defensa y Justicia at the weekend, although it remains to be seen how seriously Milito takes this fixture with his team already through to the next round.

Independiente del Valle possible starting lineup:
Lara; Landazuri, Pellerano, Carabajal; Fernandez, Alcivar, Faravelli, Medina; Ortiz, Sornoza; Hoyos

Argentinos Juniors possible starting lineup:
Arias; MacAllister, Torren, Villalba; Cabrera, Redondo, Moyano, Montiel; Metilli, Rodriguez; Avalos

We say: Independiente del Valle 1-0 Argentinos Juniors

With both teams already through to the knockout stages, we do not expect to see a particularly entertaining encounter on Thursday.

Independiente have been incredibly tough to beat on home soil in recent years and we believe that they have enough about them to secure a tight victory and top spot in Group E as a result.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

Previews by email