BUENOS AIRES, March 7 (Xinhuanet) -- Argentine soccer club River Plate will host Ecuador's El Nacional on Wednesday, hoping to score their first win in the South-America wide Libertadores Cup, during their second match in Group 8 of the competition.

    The recent injury of forward Luciano Figueroa, who will be away from the pitch for six months, may well discourage them as they enter the Monunmental Stadium at 7.30 local time (2230 GMT), a venue whose pitch is not at its best, having just hosted concerts by the Rolling Stones and U2.

    Although River Plate, nicknamed "The Millionaires", is leading Argentina's league competition, it started on the wrong foot in its 27th entry to South America's biggest club competition -- a contest it had won in 1986 and 1996.

    After losing 2-0 to Paraguay's Libertad, River is in last place. Libertad is leading with four points, Sao Paolo is in second place with two points, both with two games played.

    The Libertadores is an important target for River Plate -- which has the most local cups of any Argentine team, but has rarely managed to match this internationally, in contrast to Argentine rivals Boca Juniors and Independiente.

    Nacional, the Ecuadorian armed forces' team, will also be hoping to improve its image, after a 0-0 draw with Sao Paolo. It has appeared in the Cup 20 times, more than another other local team apart from Barcelona with 21, but has never once won the contest. Enditem