Boca Juniors (Argentina) – Palmeiras (Brazil)

Boca Juniors claimed another victory on penalties to reach the Copa Libertadores’ semi-finals again: they beat Racing Club after a 0-0 away draw in the return leg (also 0-0 on aggregate). Last Saturday, El Xeneize settled for a 1-1 home draw against Lanus, which means they continue to produce an irregular campaign in the Copa Liga Profesional, accumulating seven points in six matches (which places them out of the Copa Libertadores’ spots in the aggregate table, trailing fourth-placed Defensa y Justicia by two points). El Xeneize claimed a single victory across their last eight competitive games in regular time, drawing four and losing three. At home they remain winless in the last three (two stalemates and one loss).

Meanwhile, SE Palmeiras haven’t found any difficulties to overcome the quarter-finals, securing a 0-0 home draw in the return leg against Colombia’s Deportivo Pereira to make it 4-0 on aggregate. Last Thursday, O Verdao lost 1-0 away at Gremio, a result that stopped their eight-match unbeaten streak of five victories and three draws in all competitions without even conceding. Speaking of the league, Abel Ferreira’s men remain second-placed on 44 points, seven behind leaders Botafogo FR with 14 rounds to go. The aforementioned loss also put an end to three away games without defeat (two wins and one stalemate).

I can’t imagine how this very poor Boca can hold a team like Palmeiras. Their best hope will be to hold to a double draw and maybe advance on penalties, but they are clearly in a big disadvantage here and I don’t expect the brazilians to lose.

BET: Palmeiras DNB @ 1.81