The quarter-finals of the Copa Libertadores serve up an intruiging all-Argentine encounter, with six-time winners Boca Juniors facing local rivals Racing Club.
Boca defeated Uruguayan side Nacional on penalties to reach the last eight, while Racing dispatched Colombian outfit Atletico Nacional, setting up Wednesday's first leg at La Bombonera.
Match preview
© Reuters
Following a goalless first leg, Boca Juniors played out a dramatic 2-2 draw with Nacional in the second leg of their last-16 clash, eventually winning 4-2 on penalties thanks to Valentin Barco's clinching spot kick.
It would not be unfair to say that the Buenos Aires giants made a poor start to their Copa Libertadores campaign, recording a goalless draw against Venezuelan minnows Monagas in their opening match, with Bruno Valdez and Facundo Roncaglia both seeing red.
However, Jorge Almiron's men bounced back to win four of their next five Libertadores outings, scoring nine goals while conceding on just two occasions, with a couple of clean-sheet victories over Colo Colo preceding a 4-0 thrashing of Monagas in the final round of group games.
Boca experienced a below-par campaign in the Argentine Primera Division earlier this year, losing nine of their 27 matches to finish seventh after the first phase, although they kicked off the second phase with a 3-1 victory over Platense last time out.
The Blue and Gold have reached a record 11 Copa Libertadores finals over the years, triumphing on six occasions, although they suffered final heartache in 2012 and 2018 following their most recent success back in 2007.
© Reuters
Racing Club, meanwhile, booked their place in the quarter-finals with a crazy 5-4 aggregate win over Atletico Nacional, coming from two goals down to reach the last eight of the competition for the first time since 2020.
Despite a late brace from Gonzalo Piovi, Racing were unable to prevent a 4-2 defeat in the first leg of their last-16 clash, but they managed to turn things around on home soil, winning the second leg 3-0 to punch their ticket to the quarter-finals.
Like Boca, La Academia recorded four wins, one draw and one loss during the group stage, meaning that the Avellaneda outfit finished two points clear of Brazilian giants Flamengo in Group A, while only Palmeiras scored more group-stage goals than Racing's 13.
Managed by former Real Madrid midfielder and Boca Juniors legend Fernando Gago - who made 199 appearances for the Blue and Gold - Racing Club will be determined to get one over on the Buenos Aires powerhouse.
Although La Academia have struggled for consistency in recent weeks - recording three wins, four draws and two losses in their last nine outings across all competitions - they will not require any motivation to rise to the occasion on Wednesday.
Team News
© Reuters
Having returned from injury in last weekend's victory over Platense, Boca Juniors winger Luca Langoni will be hoping to feature in the first leg at La Bombonera.
Veteran striker Edinson Cavani found the back of the net last time out, meaning that the 36-year-old will likely lead the line on Wednesday, with Exequiel Zeballos and Lucas Janson operating on the flanks.
At the opposite end of the pitch, ex-Manchester United defender Marcos Rojo will partner Jorge Figal at centre-back, while Sergio Romero is expected to return between the sticks.
Racing Club, on the other hand, could be without as many as six first-team players on Wednesday, with Nicolas Reniero, Roger Martinez, Johan Carbonero, Emiliano Vecchio, Leonel Miranda and Juan Ignacio Nardoni all injury doubts.
Fernando Gago will likely utilise a 5-3-2 formation as he attempts to reduce Boca's attacking threat, with Maximiliano Romero and Juan Fernando Quintero occupying the forward line.
Santiago Quiros, Tobias Rubio and Ivan Pillud are expected to start at centre-back, while Gabriel Rojas and Gaston Martirena should occupy the full-back spots.
Boca Juniors possible starting lineup:
Romero; Blondel, Figal, Rojo, Saracchi; Medina, Campuzano, Fernandez; Zeballos, Cavani, Janson
Racing Club possible starting lineup:
Tagliamonte, Martirena, Pillud, Rubio, Quiros, Rojas; Almendra, Vera, Rodriguez; Quintero, Romero
We say: Boca Juniors 1-1 Racing Club
Given the high-stakes nature of this clash, we expect Boca Juniors and Racing Club to play out a tense and cagey stalemate on Wednesday, with both sides settling for a draw ahead of the decisive second leg.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Ben Morris
