Under the coaching of Mexican Gerardo Espinoza, the Quito-based team will rely on the two attackers who made waves in 2023: Medina, who scored eight goals and provided three assists, against Blanco's 13 goals with Técnico Universitario.

In addition to the goal scorers, the team, also known as "Papá Aucas," will count on Argentine goalkeeper Federico Lanzillotta, compatriot defenders Patricio Pizarro, Juan González; Paraguayan Carlos Rolón, and Argentine forward Mario Sanabria.

The notable absence for Thursday's match will be Mexican goalkeeper Edson Reséndez, due to an injury.

Espinoza's team will also aim to showcase its strength with its defenders and wingers, taking advantage of the adaptation to the 2,850 meters above sea level in Quito, to try to suffocate the tricolor, as Nacional is also known.

Meanwhile, Nacional, led by Argentine Juan Pablo Pumpido since last August, will take important precautions in its defensive block but remain attentive to any space or mistake in the home team's build-up to counterattack with a forward like Argentine Nazareno Bazán.

While Pumpido's technical work contributed to Nacional reaching the current stage of the Libertadores, the results this year in the Paraguayan Apertura tournament have them second to last after the first four matches, with only two points.

They started the Paraguayan League with a 1-0 loss to Sportivo Ameliano, drew 2-2 at home against General Caballero, repeated a 2-2 draw away at Olimpia, and suffered a significant 1-4 home defeat against Guaraní in the recent match.

One aspect that could play in Nacional's favor is its history in the Libertadores, participating for the tenth time in the tournament and reaching the final in 2014, where they lost to Argentina's San Lorenzo de Alamgro.

Among the foreign reinforcements Pumpido will have are his compatriots Brian Blasi, Sergio Ojeda, Juan Fernando Alfaro, Facundo Velasco, Ignacio Bailone, and Bazán.

For Thursday's match, held at the Gonzalo Pozo Ripalda Stadium, local control authorities have authorized Aucas to use 60% of the total capacity, around 12,000 fans, due to the security issues facing Ecuador.

The referee for the match, scheduled for 19:30 hours and available on beIN SPORTS, will be Chilean Piero Maza, assisted by Rodrigo Carvajal in VAR.