Paraguay league soccer team Cerro Porteno and Brazilian rival Gremio will begin playing in Group Three of the Copa Libertadores, at 21:45 local time (00:45 GMT) on Thursday in Asuncion's La Olla (The Saucepan) Stadium.

Argentina's Hector Baldassi will referee, with the help of compatriots Pablo Lunatti and Walther Valaz.

It will be Cerro Porteno's 31st participation in Latin America's top competition for soccer clubs, but the team has never won the trophy.

The Paraguay team includes Bolivia's Lorgio Alvarez and Brazil's Rodrigo Costa, brand-new transfers in defense. In the last two games the Paraguay team played its derby rival Olympia twice, beating it 4-0 the first time and tieing 0-0 the second time.

Gremio, managed by Mano Menezes, comes from a winning run in Brazil, which sees it leading the local league with seven victories in a row, during which it scored 17 goals without conceding a single one.

In its last match, it crushed visiting Guarani, a team from Venacio Aries, by four goals to zero.

The team also boasts two new players: Argentines Sebastian Saja and Ronaldo Schiavi.

Also in the group are Colombia's Deportivo Cucuta and Deportes Tolima, who ended their match on Tuesday in a goal-less draw.

Source: Xinhua