Boca Jrs (Argentina) vs Nacional (Uruguay)
Boca Juniors grabbed a valuable point on their visit to Nacional last Wednesday, when they focused on defending to keep a clean sheet and secured a scoreless draw. Now they hold a big chance of taking home advantage and advance to the quarter-finals. Considering the Argentine league is yet to start, El Xeneize are now on nine competitive matches without defeat, having won seven and drawn two since losing to Godoy Cruz 4-0 away in June. At home, Boca have been almost perfect in their last ten, winning nine and drawing just one at Estadio La Bombonera.
Nacional showed a worthy performance in the first leg and perhaps they deserved to win at Estadio Gran Parque Central, but it all ended in a 0-0 home draw and the team will have it tough in Buenos Aires on Wednesday. With the Uruguayan Torneo Clausura still not open, El Bolso suffered a single defeat across their last six official matches in all competitions, having won three and drawn two in that spell. On away turf, Nacional have been without a win in their last four: it’s been two stalemates and two defeats since beating Montevideo City Torque 4-0 in May.
Boca was far from perfect last week and some could argue that they were lucky not to lose, but today they will have the debut of legendary striker Edinson Cavani and that should be a big morale boost for them to win and advance to the quarterfinals.