Boca Juniors can become the first non-Brazilian side to reach the final of the Copa Libertadores since River Plate in 2019 with a victory on Thursday at Allianz Parque versus Palmeiras.
The opening leg of this semi-final tie in Buenos Aires finished 0-0 as both sides remained unbeaten in the knockout portion of this competition.
Match preview
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It was another well-executed defensive masterclass for Abel Ferreira's men in the opening leg of this semi-final tie, with Palestra posting a sixth successive clean sheet at this tournament as they have yet to concede a goal in the knockout stage.
That has Verdao in the pole position to return to the final for the third time in the past four campaigns in what is their fourth successive appearance in the last four.
Palmeiras are unbeaten at home in the Libertadores this season, though they have failed to score in their last two matches in Sao Paulo, playing Atletico Mineiro and Deportivo Pereira to a 0-0 draw, while they have not lost in six consecutive matches played at Allianz Parque in all competitions, conceding only once over that stretch.
Last week was the first time they had faced a side from Argentina in this competition since 2021, with Palestra winless in their last four matches against clubs in the Primera Division, having lost their previous two such encounters at Allianz Parque.
Should they emerge victorious from this encounter, they would surpass their arch-rivals Sao Paolo for the most appearances in the final of this competition by a Brazilian club, with both sides having made it beyond the semis on six previous occasions.
Verdao have not been eliminated from a knockout stage tie when playing to a draw in their opening leg since Mexican side Tijuana took them out in the last 16 in 2013, with Palmeiras coming out on top the previous five times that they have faced that situation at the Libertadores.
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They had the bulk of the possession once again but could not do anything with it, a familiar theme for Boca Juniors, who, despite failing to score in back-to-back Libertadores home fixtures, have a chance to make the final of this tournament for the first time since 2018.
Boca have held their own on the road versus Brasileiro Serie A opponents in the knockout stage of the Libertadores, losing just one of their last eight matches played on Brazilian soil in this competition since a 2-0 defeat at Corinthians in the 2012 final, while suffering a 3-0 loss at Santos in the 2020 semi-finals.
Xeneize have only conceded once away from home at the Libertadores this year but have also failed to find the back of the net after 90 minutes in four of their five road contests, including both games played in the knockout stage this year.
Jorge Almiron has seen his side lose only two of their last 10 away matches in all competitions, including four victories over that stretch.
Azul y Oro have been knocked out in the semi-finals in three of their previous four appearances at this stage of the tournament since finishing as runners-up at the 2012 Libertadores, advancing to the final in 2018 against Gremio.
In 11 previous meetings with Palmeiras at the Libertadores, Boca Juniors have only lost twice in normal time, winning their only two knockout stage fixtures against them at Allianz Parque on penalties in the 2001 semi-finals and the final a year earlier.
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Team News
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Dudu is out for Palmeiras because of an ACL injury, while Jose Manuel Lopez missed their domestic encounter versus Bragantino over the weekend (2-1 loss) but is eligible to play in this match.
Weverton made seven stops in the opening leg of this tie, collecting his sixth successive clean sheet at this tournament, while Luan and Gustavo Gomez scored the last time they faced Boca in this competition when the two sides played to a 2-2 draw (2018).
Their leading goalscorer at the Libertadores this year, Artur (five) has not scored in this competition since netting a brace in a 4-0 victory over Bolivar on matchday six, while their top scorer in Serie A, Raphael Veiga (seven) notched the decisive goal that enabled them to advance beyond the last 16 and quarter-finals of this competition.
Luca Langoni is doubtful for Boca Juniors on Thursday because of a muscle injury, while Sergio Romero was the only one who started in the opening leg against Palmeiras to keep his place in the starting 11 this past weekend versus River Plate.
Romero has three successive clean sheets in this competition as Xeneize have not scored in their last three Libertadores encounters, with Palmeiras loanee Miguel Merentiel along with Luis Advincula scoring the previous goals for them at this tournament when they played Nacional to a 2-2 draw, advancing into the last eight on penalties.
Dario Benedetto has three goals in his last two matches versus Palmeiras in this competition, while Edinson Cavani is seeking his first of the Libertadores since making his debut in the last 16 versus Nacional, though he converted his penalty in their quarter-final triumph over Racing Club.
Palmeiras possible starting lineup:
Weverton; Rocha, Gomez, Murilo, Piquerez; Rios, Fabinho, Rafael; Veiga; Lopes, Artur
Boca Juniors possible starting lineup:
Romero; Advincula, Figal, Valentini, Fabra; Medina, Campuzano, E. Fernandez, Janson; Benedetto, Cavani
We say: Palmeiras 1-0 Boca Juniors(Palmeiras advances 1-0 on aggregate)
Palestra are used to these pressure situations and have often found a way through, and the in-form shot-stopping ability of Weverton could make the difference in this tie where these two sides have been relatively even.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Joel Lefevre
