Boca Juniors will have to win at home if they want to advance to the Copa Libertadores’ semi-finals for the third year in a row following their 1-0 away defeat at Racing Club last Wednesday. On Sunday, coach Miguel Angel Russo fielded an alternative XI, which managed to beat Independiente 2-1 away. That result allowed them to make it four points in two rounds in the Fase Campeonato (sharing the top of group A table with River Plate and Argentinos Juniors) and also stopped their four-match winless run of two draws and two defeats in regular time. At home, El Xeneize won only one of the last five, drawing one and losing three.
Racing Club only needs to avoid the defeat at La Bombonera to return to the semi-finals after 23 years thanks to their 1-0 home success over Boca Juniors last week, with Lorenzo Melgarejo netting the winner in the first half. However, it was their only victory in the last five matches (drawing two and losing two in regular time). Last Sunday, boss Sebastian Beccacece rotated his XI and the side drew 1-1 at Estudiantes to secure their first point in the Fase Complementation. On away turf, La Academia is on six without a win (two stalemates and four defeats) since beating Uruguay’s Nacional 2-1 in September.
I have to expect an open game here with Boca in a must-win situation which could leave spaces for Racing attacking counters.