Three Copa Sudamericana knockout stage fixtures hit Thursday and Friday. Here are the best parlay combinations with value odds highlighted.
Copa Sudamericana Parlay Picks - Thursday & Friday August 20-21
The CONMEBOL Copa Sudamericana knockout stage rolls on with three intriguing fixtures across Thursday and Friday. With DraftKings posting some genuinely interesting lines, there are parlay opportunities worth building around. Let's break down each match and identify the combinations that offer real value.
Match Breakdown
Olimpia Asunción vs Vasco da Gama - Thu Aug 20, 23:00 UTC
This is a fascinating fixture between a Paraguayan powerhouse and one of Brazilian football's most storied clubs. Olimpia are playing at home in Asunción, and home advantage in South American knockout football is a significant factor - the crowd and altitude can disrupt visiting sides. DraftKings has Olimpia as the home favourite at +135, with Vasco da Gama priced at +200 for the away win and the draw sitting at +215.
The draw price at +215 catches the eye here. In Copa Sudamericana knockout matches, cagey, low-scoring affairs are common as both sides are acutely aware that one mistake can end their continental run. With form data unavailable for Vasco, the value lean is toward Olimpia at home - but the draw represents a genuine threat in what could be a tight, tactical encounter.
Pick: Olimpia Asunción to win at +135 (DraftKings) - Home advantage in Asunción is real, and the line looks reasonable for a knockout stage favourite.
Macará vs Santos - Thu Aug 20, 23:00 UTC
Macará of Ecuador hosting Santos of Brazil is another cross-confederation clash where home advantage matters enormously. Playing at altitude in Ecuador is notoriously difficult for sea-level teams, and Santos - despite their pedigree - will find this a demanding environment. DraftKings has Macará as slim home favourites at +135, Santos at +195, and the draw at a generous +225.
The draw price at +225 implies just a 30.8% probability - that feels a touch low for a tight knockout tie where both teams have plenty to play for. Santos at +195 also catches the eye as a value play given their Brazilian Serie A pedigree, but the altitude factor is a genuine equaliser here. Macará at +135 offers solid value as the home favourite given the conditions they're used to.
Pick: Macará to win at +135 (DraftKings) - Home comforts and altitude make this line attractive for the Ecuadorian side in a knockout context.
Botafogo vs Club Cienciano - Fri Aug 21, 01:30 UTC
This is the standout certainty on the slate. Botafogo - Brazilian giants and Copa Libertadores champions in recent memory - are monstrous favourites at -1111 against Club Cienciano of Peru. The implied probability on that line is approximately 91.7%, and while that sounds overwhelming, Botafogo's quality at home in Rio de Janeiro against Peruvian opposition makes this look fully justified.
At -1111, Botafogo is not something you throw into a parlay on its own - the payout just isn't worth the juice. However, as an anchor leg in a larger combination it serves a purpose. The more interesting angle here is that with Botafogo so dominant, this match is likely to see goals - and potentially BTTS could be in play if Cienciano sneak one on the counter. But for parlay building, the Botafogo win is the only sensible selection.
Pick: Botafogo to win at -1111 (DraftKings) - As an anchor only; this is as close to a banker as Copa Sudamericana offers.
Recommended Parlay Combinations
Parlay 1 - The Double Value Play (+588 combined)
Olimpia Asunción to win (+135) + Macará to win (+135)
- Olimpia Asunción ML (+135, DraftKings) - Home advantage in Paraguay knockout football is underrated
- Macará ML (+135, DraftKings) - Altitude and home comforts give the Ecuadorians a real edge
Both home sides are slight favourites yet priced generously enough to combine for a compelling double. At roughly +588 combined, you're getting nearly 7/1 on two home favourites in South American knockout football - that's excellent value. The implied probability of each hovering around 42.5% means the true combined probability is close to 18%, but the payout at +588 implies only 14.5% - giving you a meaningful edge.
Parlay 2 - The Treble Anchor Build (+624 combined)
Olimpia Asunción to win (+135) + Macará to win (+135) + Botafogo to win (-1111)
- Olimpia Asunción ML (+135, DraftKings) - Home side value
- Macará ML (+135, DraftKings) - Altitude edge for the hosts
- Botafogo ML (-1111, DraftKings) - Near-certain anchor to round out the treble
Adding Botafogo as an anchor to the home double brings the combined odds to around +624. Yes, the -1111 drags on the overall price, but Botafogo's implied 91.7% win probability means this treble is far more likely to land than the odds suggest at face value. If you need confidence in a parlay, having Botafogo at home against Cienciano is about as safe a leg as South American football offers.
Parlay 3 - The Value Hunter (Draw Double +754 combined)
Olimpia vs Vasco da Gama Draw (+215) + Macará vs Santos Draw (+225)
- Olimpia vs Vasco da Gama Draw (+215, DraftKings) - Knockout ties breed caution; draws are undervalued
- Macará vs Santos Draw (+225, DraftKings) - Another tight cross-confederation clash where neither side wants to concede first
This is the high-risk, high-reward option. Both draw prices look generous - +215 and +225 imply roughly 31-32% probability each, which in tight knockout stage matches feels light. Copa Sudamericana knockout legs regularly go to extra time, and first legs especially tend to be tight affairs. Combining both draws gives you approximately +754 combined odds - a small stake returns a significant payout if both matches finish level. This is strictly a fun value play, not a core recommendation.
Best Value Flag
The standout value on this slate is the Macará vs Santos draw at +225 (DraftKings). A 30.8% implied probability for a draw in an altitude-affected Copa Sudamericana knockout tie between an Ecuadorian host and a Brazilian traveller is genuinely generous. If you're playing singles, this is the one to note.
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