Aguilas come into this one off the back of a narrow 0-1 friendly defeat to Almeria at the end of July. That result stings, but context matters — Almeria are a side with top-flight pedigree, and Aguilas, a club from the Spanish fourth tier, were never expected to roll them over. The fact they kept it to a single goal tells you something about their defensive organisation. They are a stubborn, compact outfit at Estadio El Rubial, a 4,000-seater where the crowd can get right on top of you. That home advantage is real, especially against a side travelling thousands of miles.

Llaneros, meanwhile, arrive with a spring in their step after a 3-1 win over Fortaleza FC in the Colombian Primera A on August 4. That is a proper result — three goals, attacking intent, and a team that looks sharp in front of goal. But here is the catch: Llaneros are a Primera B side by trade, and this is a friendly, likely a warm-up for their upcoming league campaign. They are used to the altitude and heat of Villavicencio, not a Tuesday night in Murcia. The travel, the unfamiliar surroundings, the different style of football — all of that levels the playing field. Aguilas may be lower in the Spanish pyramid, but they are at home, in their rhythm, and desperate to prove themselves against a foreign opponent. Momentum is with Llaneros on paper, but the occasion is with Aguilas.