LDU de Quito and Libertad played out a goalless draw at the Estadio Rodrigo Paz Delgado, a result that flattered the visitors given the host's overwhelming statistical dominance. The match was decided by LDU's inability to convert their clear superiority in territory and chances into goals, with the final scoreline at odds with 66 per cent possession, 19 total shots and an expected goals figure of 2.0 against Libertad's 0.31. The Lemeister model had projected a home win as the most likely outcome at 38 per cent, making the stalemate a modest surprise.
Neither side managed to find the net across the 90 minutes, with the goalless draw a testament to Libertad's defensive resilience rather than any accuracy from the home attack. LDU placed only three of their 19 shots on target, a conversion rate of just under 16 per cent, while Libertad matched that figure from just six attempts. The home side had 12 shots from inside the box and seven from outside, but the visiting goalkeeper made three saves to preserve the clean sheet. Libertad's Rodrigo Morinigo was among the highest-rated players on the pitch with a 7.3, highlighting his contribution to the shutout. The discrepancy between LDU's 2.0 expected goals and their actual output of zero underscores a fundamental lack of finishing quality, as the model suggested they created sufficient chances to score twice.
The midfield battle heavily favoured LDU, who completed 469 passes at 86 per cent accuracy compared to Libertad's 249 at 70 per cent. This passing dominance translated into territorial control, with the home side also winning the corner count 7-4 and forcing three offside calls against the Libertad defence. Despite this control, LDU's attack lacked incision; their expected goals of 2.0 from 19 shots suggests a mismatch between quantity and quality, as only three efforts forced saves. Jesús Pretell was the standout performer with a 7.9 rating, demonstrating why he controlled the game from the centre of the park. Yerlin Quinonez also impressed with a 7.6, while Gonzalo Valle, Gian Franco Allala and Ivan Zambrano each earned 7.3 ratings, indicating a strong collective performance that failed to produce a goal.
Discipline was a recurring theme, with five yellow cards shown in total. Johan Estacio of Libertad was booked in the 26th minute for a late challenge, followed by LDU's Luis Segovia four minutes later for a similar offence. Rodney Redes of the home side went into the book just after half-time, with Yerman Quinonez receiving a caution for Libertad in the 77th minute for a tactical foul. Gian Franco Allala completed the card count with a yellow in the seventh minute of stoppage time, likely for time-wasting or a frustrated tackle. Both sides used all five of their permitted substitutions, indicating a tactical battle that failed to produce a breakthrough.
For LDU de Quito, the result represents two dropped points in the context of the Regular Season. Their nine-point advantage in expected goals and 66 per cent possession should have yielded victory, but a lack of ruthlessness in front of goal cost them. The home side's 11 shots off goal and five blocked shots further highlight their finishing inefficiency. Libertad will be the more content side, having weathered sustained pressure and earned a point on the road, with only three shots on target from six attempts demonstrating their limited attacking ambition. With both teams moving through the final stretch of the season, this stalemate leaves LDU needing to sharpen their finishing in upcoming fixtures if they are to convert such dominance into maximum points.
