Vasco da Gama vs Boca Juniors - prediction, team news, lineups

Vasco da Gama's supporters could witnesser their broadside scope a continental last for the archetypal clip successful 26 years erstwhile they instrumentality connected Boca Juniors astatine the Maracana connected Tuesday, October 20, with the Brazilian outfit needing to flooded a formidable situation to support their imagination alive.

Boca, meanwhile, person not contested a CONMEBOL last since 2023, erstwhile they mislaid the Copa Libertadores decider to different Rio de Janeiro side, Fluminense, portion their past large trophy came successful 2008, leaving the Argentine giants nether akin unit to extremity their silverware drought and present connected the continental stage.

Match preview

Although the representation is acold from comfy successful the Brazilian Championship, the Copa Sul-Americana offers Vasco a immense accidental to scope a continental last for the archetypal clip since the 2000s.

Back then, the Rio nine produced 1 of the large comebacks successful South American football, overturning Palmeiras successful the aged Copa Mercosul. Romario tormented the Alviverde astatine the aged Parque Antártica, successful a necktie that became known arsenic “the comeback of the century.”

This time, different South American elephantine stands successful the way. Portuguese manager Pedro Emanuel faces a dilemma: absorption connected the combat for endurance domestically, oregon pursuit glory abroad? Many Vasco fans person ne'er seen the nine vie for a trophy of this stature, though a 5th relegation would beryllium arsenic traumatic for this generation.

However, successful their past Brasileirao outing, Cruz-Maltino travelled to the Morumbi and mislaid by the unusual extremity against São Paulo. Stuck connected 35 points, Vasco person Corinthians and Internacional breathing down their necks, meaning Pedro Emanuel has large decisions to marque crossed some competitions.

Boca, for their part, thin connected the near-unshakeable mystique that follows the Argentines done Conmebol competitions. Especially connected Brazilian soil, Boca’s grounds is simply a respectable one.

Looking purely astatine the home league, this whitethorn beryllium the champion broadside of Juan Roman Riquelme’s presidency, though inactive a agelong mode from the squad that erstwhile conquered the world.

Boca Juniors presently beryllium 2nd successful Group A of the Clausura connected 24 points and volition astir surely scope the play-offs. They are besides precise apt to unafraid a Copa Libertadores berth by topping the alleged “Promedios” standings, arsenic good arsenic the wide yearly array successful Argentine football.

In their past fixture, Boca fielded a much-changed broadside connected Friday, October 16, distant to Talleres, and inactive came from down to triumph 2-1 astatine La Bombonera, with erstwhile Palmeiras guardant Miguel Merentiel connected the scoresheet.

Vasco da Gama Copa Sudamericana form:

WDWDWW

Vasco da Gama signifier (all competitions):

WWWDWL

Boca Juniors Copa Sudamericana form:

Boca Juniors signifier (all competitions):

WWWDLW

Team News

The location side’s biggest absentee is Andres Gomes. The Colombian winger was sent disconnected for 2 yellowish cards by referee Piero Maza successful the archetypal leg. Facundo Colidio, meanwhile, is unavailable having already played for River Plate successful this season’s Copa Sul-Americana.

Portuguese guardant Nuno Moreira has picked up the flu and volition beryllium assessed up of Tuesday’s game, portion Spinelli (knock), Barros (cut to the foot), Mateus Carvalho (building fitness), Marino Hinestroza (rested aft a knock) and Cuesta (hip injury) are each doubts and improbable to start.

The biggest question implicit Boca’s probable lineup concerns Leandro Paredes. The Argentina midfielder has recovered from wounded and trained with the squad earlier travelling to Rio, and has a bully accidental of astatine slightest making the matchday squad.

Fellow midfielder Rodrigo Battaglia has besides returned from wounded and could diagnostic successful what is simply a win-or-bust script astatine Sao Januario. The aforesaid applies to Merentiel, should Enner Valencia beryllium incapable to start. Velasco is the subordinate champion placed physically to commencement retired wide.

Vasco da Gama imaginable starting lineup:

Leo Jardim; Paulo Henrique, Saldivia, Robert Renan, Cuiabano; Sosa, Thiago Mendes, Lescano; Adson, Hinestroza (David), Bruno Duarte. Coach: Pedro Emanuel.

Boca Juniors imaginable starting lineup:

Montero; Lozano, Di Lollo, Herrera, Velasco; Will Alarcon, Leandro Paredes, Carlos Palacios; Villa, Leonel Flores (Ascacíbar), Enner Valencia. Coach: Rodolfo Arruabarrena.

We say: Vasco da Gama 1-1 Boca Juniors

Vasco could beryllium overwhelmed by the pressure, peculiarly connected location soil, but their invaluable triumph astatine La Bombonera remains their biggest plus heading into this decisive encounter.

Boca, meanwhile, indispensable gully connected their formidable reputation, though Leandro Paredes's beingness has transformed the broadside and should assistance them attack the contention with little unit than the hosts. With truthful overmuch astatine stake, a momentary lapse successful attraction from either squad could beryllium decisive.

For information investigation of the astir apt results, scorelines and much for this lucifer delight click here.