Making their first-ever trip to Estadio Hernando Siles on Tuesday, Palestino will square off with Bolivar on the final matchday in the group phase of the 2024 Copa Libertadores.
Despite a 4-0 defeat against Flamengo on matchday five, the Bolivians are still well positioned to advance, needing just a single point to finish first in Group E, while Palestino are behind Flamengo for second on goal difference following a 1-1 draw with Millonarios.
Match preview
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After suffering their first defeat at the Libertadores this year, we will see how Bolivar respond to the pressure on Tuesday with a chance to make the knockout portion of this tournament for a second successive campaign.
Their matchday five loss was the second time in successive Libertadores appearances that they had suffered a four-goal defeat on Brazilian soil, though they have not lost consecutive group contests in this competition since 2020.
Flavio Robatto's men boast a 100% record at home in the 2024 Libertadores and have won five successive group fixtures in this competition at Estadio Hernando Siles.
If Los Celestes earn a win or draw on Tuesday, they will have won their group for the first time since the 2013-14 edition of the Libertadores, when they reached the semi-finals, while only a loss combined with a Flamengo victory would eliminate them from this competition.
A victory on matchday six would give them 13 points, the most that this side will have accumulated in the group phase of this tournament since 1997-98 (13).
The La Paz side have only suffered one defeat in this competition versus a Chilean opponent at Estadio Hernando Siles, losing 3-1 to Union Espanola in 2012.
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Having claimed at least a point in three successive Libertadores group fixtures, Palestino have given themselves a chance to advance beyond the group stage of this tournament for the first time.
In all likelihood, they will need Flamengo to slip up in their final group game to have an opportunity to advance into the knockout stage, with their goal differential currently at -3 and the Brazilians at +4, though a three-goal victory over Bolivar would propel them into the next round regardless.
It would be quite the turnaround for the side based in Santiago, who lost their first two group fixtures in this competition by a combined score of 6-0.
Baisanos have not won an away match in the group stage of this tournament since May 2019, when they came from behind to defeat Allianza Lima 2-1.
Vitamina Sanchez's men are unbeaten in the group stage of the 2024 Libertadores when either ahead or tied at the half while losing both of their encounters when they were behind after 45 minutes.
They are winless in their last three matches in all competitions away from home, with their previous victory as the visitors occurring versus Nublense in mid-April (2-0).
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Team News
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From matchday four to five, we saw two new faces in the Bolivar starting 11, with Andersson Ordonez and Fernando Saucedo replacing Jesus Sagredo and Henry Vaca.
Francisco da Costa's first-half brace opened the floodgates for the Bolivians in their previous outing against the Chileans, as Bruno Savio and Ramiro Vaca also found the back of the net in a 4-0 triumph on matchday one.
Palestino are likely to be without Nicolas Meza and Jose Bizama for this decisive fixture because of cruciate ligament tears, while Brayan Vejar is eligible to feature despite being sent off in their domestic defeat to Union Espanola (1-0) on Friday.
An injury-time goal courtesy of Junior Marabel enabled them to claim a point versus Millonarios and draw even with Flamengo on points, his first of the competition.
Bolivar possible starting lineup:
Lampe; Saavedra, Orihuela, Rocha, Je. Sagredo; Saucedo, Justiniano, R. Vaca; Savio, Chico, Algaranaz
Palestino possible starting lineup:
Rigamonti; Rojas, Roman, Suarez, Davila; Abrigo, Martinez, Vejar; Fuentes, Marabel, Benitez
We say: Bolivar 2-1 Palestino
The Bolivians always seem to do just enough to win at home, and that should give them a big confidence boost following the one-sided defeat they suffered on matchday five.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joel Lefevre
