Boca Juniors to take Copa Libertadores advantage

The biggest, most fiery derby in world football kicks off on Saturday in Argentina. Yet, the derby match between Boca Juniors and River Plate won’t be an ordinary Argentine league match – as if any meeting is ordinary between them.

The two rivals will contest the two-legged Copa Libertadores Final over the next two Saturdays. The winner will not only get a leg up on their eternal rival, but they will lift the most prestigious trophy in South American club football.

In many ways, this game can be called the “match of the century”, and it could very well be the biggest between River Plate and Boca Juniors. The rivalry began in 1913 and over the course of the last century-plus, Boca Juniors have just edged River Plate in victories. The two rivals have actually met 24 times in the Copa Libertadores previously. Boca Juniors holds the advantage with 10 wins. River Plate have tallied seven wins while seven games have ended level.

Boca Juniors defeated Brazilian team Palmeiras in the semifinal, winning 4-2 on aggregate to reach the final. River Plate edged past reigning champions Gremio thanks to the away goals rule. Their series ended in a 2-2 aggregate score. River Plate won the Copa Libertadores in 2015 with a 3-0 victory over Mexico’s UANL Tigers.

The first leg will be held at Boca Juniors’ La Bombonera Stadium. Home advantage has not boded well for either Boca Juniors nor River Plate. Eleven of the last 12 matches have been won by the away team. When the two clubs met in September in the Argentina Premier Division at La Bombonera, River Plate took the spoils with a 2-0 win.

Coach Marcelo Gallardo’s River Plate have kept a clean sheet in nine of their last 10 away matches versus Boca Juniors. Not all of those matches have come in the league or cup competitions, however. The two rivals have played several friendlies with River Plate getting the upper hand.

Boca Juniors go into the fixture as leading sportsbooks’ favourite, although it isn’t by much. Playing at home in the cup final will buoy the team. Despite losing to River Plate in their most recent league encounter, things will be completely different in the Copa Libertadores Final. Striker Carlos Tevez leads Boca Juniors in league goals with three. He will be Boca Juniors’ dangerman throughout and his experience will help calm the team on a big night.

The first leg should be quite conservative. Neither coach will want to make a mistake that costs them the trophy. Therefore, expect a cagey affair with just one goal separating them. Boca Juniors will get that one goal at home and set up a barnstormer of a second leg in a week’s time.