Boca looking for more points as Copa Lib fires up
Boca Juniors will be looking to consolidate its strong start to the Copa Libertadores when it hosts Barcelona SC in arguably the glamour fixture of a huge week of fixtures in South America's premier cup competition.
Boca opened its campaign in Group D with a fine 2-1 away win over Universidad Catolica, while Barcelona SC fell to a 1-0 home defeat against Cruzeiro, meaning the Ecuadorian side arrives at La Bombonera searching for its first points of the campaign.
Boca has not lost an international match at La Bombonera in more than a year, and its strength lies in a well-balanced midfield and the finishing of Miguel Merentiel.
Barcelona will likely look to hit on the break through winger Janner Corozo, but its preparation has been disrupted by an injury to midfielder Jesus Trindade in its most recent league match and he is a major doubt.
There is added intrigue as former Boca fan favourite Darío Benedetto returns to La Bombonera as a Barcelona player.
Estudiantes is level on one point with Independiente Medellin in Group A, meaning the Argentinean side knows a loss against Cusco FC could put it in a difficult position before defending champion and group leader Flamengo arrives in La Plata later in the campaign.
Estudiantes earned a creditable draw in the opening round at Medellin, but has yet to find its best form.
Cusco travels to La Plata with Argentinean forward Facundo Callejo identified as its primary attacking weapon, but the Peruvian side, which is playing in just its second Copa Libertadores campaign, was well beaten by Flamengo on debut and needs a response to get going in the group.
At the same time in Group F, Cerro Porteno hosts Junior and will be desperate to kick-start its campaign with a win.
Cerros was shocked by Sporting Cristal in Lima on Matchday 1, a result that left the Paraguayan powerhouse without a point. A defeat at home would leave it in a desperate situation in a group anchored by Palmeiras.
Junior, of Barranquilla, enters this one as 2025 Colombian Finalizacion champion, bringing genuine continental pedigree to the group, and this promises to be a bruising encounter with plenty at stake.
Bolivar will be under some unexpected pressure when Deportivo La Guaira arrives at the altitude fortress for a Group C clash.
Independiente Rivadavia stunned Bolivar 1-0 on the first matchday, while La Guaira drew 0-0 with Fluminense in Caracas to take what now looks like a solid point in hindsight, but it now faces one of the most daunting away fixtures in South American football, with Estadio Hernando Siles located 3,637 metres above sea level.
Bolivar's clinical striker Bruno Miranda will be one to watch as the home side seeks its first win of the group stage.
In Group G, LDU Quito hosts Mirassol having opened its campaign with a 1-0 win over Always Ready.
Mirassol – the Brazilian Serie A newcomer – produced one of Matchday 1's biggest upsets by beating Lanus 1-0 in Brazil and shares top spot in the group with its host as a result.
Like Bolivar, LDU's home form in Quito is by altitude and makes it a narrow favourite, but Mirassol has shown it cannot be underestimated and this will likely be an intriguing contest.
Universitario drew its opening match in Group B 0-0 with Deportes Tolima and will be desperate to collect a first win in front of a passionate Lima crowd when it hosts Coquimbo Unido.
The visitors held Nacional to a 1-1 draw on Matchday 1, making this a battle between two of the group's more evenly matched sides.
