Bolivar need at least a two-goal victory on Thursday to prolong their stay in the Copa Libertadores as they welcome Flamengo to Estadio Hernando Siles for the second leg of that round of 16 tie.
The three-time winners of this tournament head into this engagement with a 2-0 cushion, scoring in each half back in Brazil last week.
Match preview
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Weeks of strong results for the Bolivians were halted in the opening leg of this tie, as they suffered their second defeat of the competition a week ago.
That defeat also ended a three-match winning run for them domestically, where they failed to concede a single goal in any of those previous encounters.
After going three straight matches domestically without conceding, though, Flavio Robatto's side have failed to find the back of the net in consecutive competitive fixtures, playing to a 0-0 draw with San Antonio Bulo Bulo in the Bolivian Primera Division on Monday.
El Rey de Copas won all three of their group fixtures at home in the competition, including a two-goal triumph the last time out versus Palestino.
A victory by more than two goals on Thursday would guarantee they make it to at least the last eight of the Libertadores on consecutive occasions for the first time since going to three successive quarter-finals from 1997 to 2000.
Meanwhile, they have a 100% record all-time at home against Flamengo in this competition, claiming a 2-1 victory on matchday three this year, though only one of those wins was by two goals, claiming a 3-1 triumph in the 1983 group stage.
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A strong showing in the opening leg has Flamengo in position to return to the quarter-finals of this tournament for the first time since they last lifted the trophy in 2022.
On Thursday, they will have a shot at redemption, having squandered a one-goal advantage at this stage of the competition last year and exiting the tournament thanks to a 3-1 defeat versus Olimpia in the return engagement.
The last two times they had a 2-0 lead heading into the second leg of a Libertadores round of 16 tie in 2021 and 2022, Urubu advanced into the next round without conceding.
Although they performed well in the first leg, August has been disappointing for Tite's men, who have suffered three defeats in five competitive games this month, with that win over Bolivar being their only triumph.
Flamengo are currently on a three-match losing run domestically away from home, and this team did not win a single Libertadores group fixture as the visitors this year.
Their only defeat against a Bolivian opponent in the knockout portion of this tournament occurred in the 2012 qualifying round when Real Potosi beat them 2-1 on their home field, but Mengao advanced from that tie 3-2 on aggregate.
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Team News
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From matchday six to the opening leg of this tie, Bolivar made four changes to their starting 11, with Anderson, Bruno Savio, Fabio Gomes and Alfio Oviedo replacing Yomar Rocha, Henry Vaca, Chico and Carmelo Algaranaz, with those last two having transferred to other clubs.
The last time they hosted Flamengo, goals from Chico and Bruno Savio propelled the Bolivians to a narrow 2-1 victory as Carlos Lampe only faced three shots on target.
In the opening leg last week, Flamengo were missing Everton and Matias Vina, who are both out for the season with an Achilles tendon and knee injury, respectively.
Luiz Araujo notched the winner just before the half-hour mark on Thursday, and Leo Pereira gave them a cushion heading into this encounter with a goal one minute before the 90.
Bolivar possible starting lineup:
Lampe; Je. Sagredo, Orihuela, Anderson, Jo. Sagredo; Justiniano; Savio, Saucedo, R. Vaca, Rodriguez; Oviedo
Flamengo possible starting lineup:
Rossi; Varela, Bruno, Pereira, Ayrton; Jesus, Pulgar; Gerson, De Arrascaeta, Araujo; Pedro
We say: Bolivar 1-0 Flamengo (Flamengo advances 2-1 on aggregate)
With a two-goal cushion, the Brazilians may put an extra emphasis on maintaining that advantage, and we believe they will do just enough to hang on against a desperate Bolivar side.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joel Lefevre
