River Plate arrived in their third consecutive Copa Libertadores’ semi-finals after beating Cerro Porteno from Paraguay 3-1 on aggregate (1-1 away a month ago in the return leg). Last Saturday, El Millonario’s alternative XI beat Gimnasia LP 2-0 to reach 14 points in the league table, four behind leaders Boca Juniors. The team suffered a single defeat in their last six competitive matches, winning three and drawing two. At home, River is winless in the last three games, earning a single point in that spell.
Meanwhile, Boca Juniors settled for a scoreless home draw with Liga Deportiva Universitaria from Ecuador at home after beating them 3-0 away in the first leg. El Xeneize also fielded a rotated XI last weekend, when they drew 1-1 with Newell’s Old Boys at their own stadium. However, they remain unbeaten in the league and at the top of the league table on 18 points. Boca is on 13 competitive matches without defeat, having won eight and drawn five in regular time. On away turf, they haven’t lost any of the last 11 (six wins, five draws).
Boca has conceded only 1 goal in 8 league games, their defense is in top form and I can imagine them here playing with defensive tactics like a month ago when they met in a 0-0 draw in the league. I think neither will take big risks in this 1st leg so I have to expect a tight and balanced game.