Boca (Argentina) vs Monagas (Venezuela)
Boca Juniors clinched their ticket to the Copa Libertadores’ round-of-16 following a 1-0 home success over Chile’s Colo Colo with Marcelo Weigandt netting the winner in the second half. El Xeneize are now leaders in group F on ten points, three above Deportivo Pereira, which means they only need to avoid the defeat here to end up at the top of the group. Last Thursday, Jorge Almiron’s men succumbed to a terrible 4-0 away defeat at Godoy Cruz, dropping down to the 14th spot of the Liga Profesional table on 28 points. The side claimed a single victory across their last four matches in all competitions, drawing one and losing two. However, Boca are unbeaten in six at home, with five victories and one draw.
Monagas SC secured their first victory in the 2023 Copa Libertadores last time out, when they beat Deportivo Pereira 1-0 at home thanks to a penalty netted by Edanyilber Navas. El Azulgrana Oriental climbed into third spot of the group F table on five points and even hold a tiny chance of advancing to the round-of-16: they need to win here and wait for a favorable result in Chile (the team are trailing Deportivo Pereira by two points and leading Colo Colo by goal difference). On Saturday, Monagas lost 2-0 away at Caracas FC, dropping down to the tenth place of the Venezuelan league table on 18 points in 15 matches. Johnny Ferreira’s men lost five of their last seven competitive games, winning one and drawing one. On away turf, they took a single point from the last 18 on offer.
As bad as Boca has been lately and despite some missings due to injuries, I can’t see how they won’t win comfortably against a mid table venezuelan team that will have to take risks sooner than later.