Boca Jrs (Argentina) – Cruzeiro (Brazil)
Boca Juniors celebrated a hard-fought 1-0 home success over Independiente del Valle (with striker Edinson Cavani scoring) to overcome the Copa Sudamericana playoff through a 1-0 aggregate success. Last Saturday, El Xeneize drew 1-1 away at Independiente Rivadavia to make it 14 points in ten Liga Profesional rounds. Overall, El Xeneize have been unbeaten in their last nine competitive matches, winning four and drawing five. At home, Boca haven’t lost any of their last 18 (12 victories and six stalemates).
Cruzeiro skipped the playoff round by winning group B: they became leaders thanks to a 1-0 home success over Universidad Catolica (Ecuador), which allowed them to make it 12 points and leapfrog their opponents by one. Last Saturday, A Raposa registered a scoreless home stalemate against arch-rivals Atletico Mineiro to continue occupying one of the Copa Libertadores’ spots in the Brazilian league table (sitting in sixth on 36 points). Cruzeiro lost only one of their last four in all competitions (winning two and drawing one) and also made it two victories across the last three on away turf (along with one defeat).
Even though Boca has struggled to score lately, they are still a decent attacking team, especially with Edinson Cavani on the pitch like tonight when they will have their best lineup available. They’ve also conceded against two very poor teams like Barracas and Independiente Rivadavia in their last two games, so I expect Cruzeiro to be able to hurt them as well here and I’ll go for the OVER.