As the Chilean domestic season is just a few games old, the Copa Chile is at the quarter-final stage with just eight sides left in the competition. One of the ties of the round comes as Audax Italiano host Club Universidad de Chile as both sides look to go all the way for the first piece of silverware of the 2017/18 season. The hosts overcame Barnechea in the last round with 6-2 aggregate scoreline while the visitors comfortably eased past Nublense 4-0 over two legs.

STATS

• Audax Italiano have picked up seven points from the first five league games of the season with two wins, one draw and two losses. They need to improve on this very average early season form if they want to push for a European place but they are currently mid-table which would be a brilliant finish for them.
• Club Universidad de Chile have started better with nine points from their first five after three wins and two losses. They will be desperate to finish higher than the fifth position they are currently occupying. A cup run would be nice for them this season.
• There isn’t a single player in the Chilean top flight with more goals than Audax Italiano main man, Bryan Carrasco. The Chilean winger has managed five goals in the league, although four of them have come from the penalty spot.
• Gustavo Lorenzetti and former Man City midfielder, David Pizarro, are the visitors’ top scorers in the league so far this season, both with two goals. They’ll be looking for more consistency in front of goal from their strikers.

HEAD TO HEAD

The fixtures between these two sides have been very equal in recent years as both sides have won two of the last seven meetings. None of the three draws have been goalless, which sums up the games between the teams. There have been over 2.5 goals in all five of the last five matches while both teams have scored in four of these.

AUDAX ITALIANO NEWS

After their decent start to the season in many ways, Audax Italiano will be looking to keep up that form with a good win over a competitor for the Copa Chile. They don’t have any injury woes to panic about and with a full squad available at their disposal, it shouldn’t be too hard for them to progress to the semi-final if they put in a collective good performance.

Latest matches: Audax Italiano

27.08.2017	Prim	Universidad de Concepcion	Audax Italiano	1:1	D
18.08.2017	Prim	Audax Italiano	Deportes Temuco	2:1	W
13.08.2017	Prim	Audax Italiano	Deportes Iquique	1:3	L
06.08.2017	Prim	Huachipato	Audax Italiano	2:1	L
29.07.2017	Prim	Audax Italiano	Palestino	2:1	W

CLUB UNIVERSIDAD DE CHILE NEWS

For them to stay in with a chance of a trophy, Universidad de Chile need a big win in this game. After two losses already in the league, they can't afford to lose a game in the cup as they will crash out. They also don’t have any notable injuries to be worried about so it should be a great contest.

Latest matches: Universidad de Chile

27.08.2017	Prim	Colo Colo	Universidad de Chile	4:1	L
20.08.2017	Prim	Universidad de Chile	Huachipato	3:2	W
13.08.2017	Prim	San Luis de Quillota	Universidad de Chile	2:0	L
05.08.2017	Prim	Universidad de Chile	Deportes Temuco	2:1	W
29.07.2017	Prim	Curico Unido	Universidad de Chile	0:1	W

SUMMARY

The strength of their squad makes Club Universidad de Chile the favourites in this quarter-final but with the home supporters against them, it will make it considerably harder. Both teams are expected to score, as they usually do in this fixture and as usual, it could go either way. The hosts will be dangerous on the counter attack so the visitors need to make sure they are effective when in possession of the ball.