Sunday 9th December 1930hrs River Plate v Boca Juniors Football – South America – Copa Libertadores It’s taken four weeks, a postponement or two, moving the game to another continent, with controversy aplenty, but we’re finally getting to see the second leg of the Copa Libertadores final. The Superclasico is regarded as being the most passionate and intense football fixture in the world and it’s hard to argue with that with the events that have surrounded this tie. We can hopefully celebrate what happens on the park tomorrow and if the first leg is anything to go by then we are in for a treat. Continue reading for a match preview of River Plate versus Boca Juniors with a selected best betting tip.
Boca Juniors can tie with Independiente as the most successful club in the Copa Libertadores should they win on Sunday. Their last victory in the competition came back in 2007 and they will feel another triumph is overdue. Their route to this stage has been challenging but they have gritted it out and seen off two of the top Brazilian teams in Cruzeiro and Palmeiras along the way. Key to their success was their home form and the 2-2 draw with River in the first leg of the final was the only game in the knockout phase they had failed to win but also conceded goals. They must now atone for that by getting a result on Sunday and the fact it has been moved to a neutral venue may well not be a bad thing for Boca. Of course, they would not have wanted to endure the terrible scenes that preceded the original second leg a fortnight ago but it could yet work in their favour and if it should then what has happened will be long forgotten about.
Due the actions of their supporters, River Plate have had to forfeit their home advantage in this leg and take their chances in Madrid, instead. They still go into the game as favourites due to their two away goals and also because they have won five of the previous six meetings before that game. They have objected to playing this match in the Bernabeu but the authorities have ruled and they must now focus on the task at hand. River have won the Copa Libertadores more recently than their arch rivals – successful in 2015 – but they have only won it three times in total and will be desperate to close that gap as well. Their passage to the final has been similarly difficult with big wins over Independiente, Racing Club and Gremio, and their coach Marcelo Gallardo knows that his team at least have the temperament to deal with the big occasion even if it’s not the same off the park. Gallardo won this competition as a player back in 1996 and he is aiming to complete a historic double. Any victory for River may have a tinge of disappointment in that it wouldn’t be in their Monumental stadium, but there will be plenty of time for celebrations back home and the concentration is solely about getting the result they need.
Boca Juniors v River Plate Betting Tip
It will just be good to get back to matters on the field and finally get a winner in this game – a full four weeks since the first leg. River showed great resolve in that first match to come from behind twice and they are now in the driving seat. Boca know that they will have to score at least once to have any chance of winning the trophy but that is often helpful for teams in that position as they know what they have to do. Boca have the star names in their squad but both Carlos Tevez and Mauro Zarate started from the bench in the first whilst both squads are vastly experienced.
How the change in venue (not only stadium but country and continent) affect the dynamic of this game remains to be seen but it should surely be a help for Boca as they avoid having to play away from home in that cauldron that is the Estadio Monumental. There is very little between these two teams and because the game is being played on neutral turf, I’m inclined to lean towards Boca as the value bet in this game.
Selection: Boca Juniors 12/5 @ Unibet
