Nacional, Independiente del Valle vie for Copa Libertadores

Medellin (Colombia) July 27 (IANS) Colombian football club Atletico Nacional and Ecuador's Independiente del Valle are preparing to face each other in the second leg of a Copa Libertadores final that offers both teams a chance to make history.

For Medellin-based Nacional, Wednesday's second leg is an opportunity for a second Copa title 27 years after they became the first Colombian side to win the competition by defeating Paraguay's Olimpia on penalty kicks.

Independiente del Valle, which climbed into the Ecuadorian first division only seven years ago, is hoping to snag its first Copa after a run that has included wins against long-established powers such as Mexico's Pumas and Argentine giants River Plate and Boca Juniors.

The first leg, played last week in Quito, ended in a 1-1 draw.

Atletico Nacional is seen as the favourite heading into Wednesday's contest here, based both on the traditional advantage of playing at home and their impressive performance throughout the competition.

Nacional will be playing without winger Sebastian Perez, suspended for an accumulation of yellow cards. His spot in the starting 11 goes to Alejandro Guerra.

Miller Castillo is to replace injured forward Jose Angulo in the Independiente del Valle lineup.