Wednesday Football Tips: Tasty cards bet on Libertadores menu

Colo-Colo v Fortaleza
Wednesday 25 May, 23:00

There was no joy for our bet last night but we've got another good recipe for cards in the Copa Libertadores on Wednesday.

Chileans Colo-Colo host Fortaleza, of Brazil, in what is essentially a play-off for a place in the knockout stage.

The winner will finish second in the group and qualify, the loser third and drop in the Copa Sudamericana. The draw favours the visitors.

That situation should ensure this is competitive from the off and with one of South America's strictest referees in charge, there looks a good chance of cards being flashed around.

Uruguayan Esteban Ostojich has already produced 17 yellows and one red in his three Libertadores games this season, although that's nothing compared to his domestic record - he's averaging eight cards per game in his homeland.

Look further back and Ostojich has now shown over 5.5 cards in 11 of his last 12 CONMEBOL club appointments, so I was surprised to see that up at odds-against.

OK, these two aren't the dirtiest sides around but they've still picked up plenty in this competition with Fortaleza receiving 13 yellows and one red (an average of three per game in betting terms) with Colo-Colo (11+1) not far behind.

This column likes a Bet Builder so you could throw in the hosts' forward Gabriel Costa to be shown a card at 13/5 - he's received one in eight of his 18 appearances in the current campaign.

However, the over 5.5 cards bet seems good enough on its own so on this occasion the straight single looks the play at 6/5.

Read the in-form Nathan Joyes' in-depth Copa Libertadores preview