Boca’s Libertadores progression could hinge on home advantage
Published:Boca Juniors are set to welcome Newell’s Old Boys to one of the fieriest cauldrons of world football for their Copa Libertadores quarter-final first leg and they’d be wise to make home comforts count.
While the visitors top the Argentinean Clasura table, having been Apertura runners-up previously, Boca are languishing in the lower reaches of the teams’ domestic league table in 18th place.
However, the six-time Libertadores winners, cheered on by their fanatical support, boast an excellent home record against their opponents and in this competition.
Xeneizes have lost only one of their last eight at home to Newell’s, winning five of those encounters.
The 11/8 available for a Boca victory takes into account their recent travails but isn’t short enough to act as a deterrent.
There’s also plenty of value to be had in that price given that Carlos Bianchi’s side have won seven of their last ten Libertadores home ties, keeping clean sheets in six of those contests.
For both teams not to score is priced at 4/6 while a 1-0 Boca win – the same scoreline by which they’ve registered their last three triumphs on home soil – is a tempting 11/2.
This will be the first of three matches in a week between the pair, with lively Old Boys talisman Ignacio Scocco a player to watch out for in each game. His appearance offers an exciting angle for goal-hungry punters.
The loanee from Al Ain has hit 29 goals in 23 matches this term, including four in his last three games and four in the Copa Libertadores so far.
If the talented 28-year-old attacker can find a way to breach a defence that’s only conceded twice in seven previous encounters in La Boca then the 9/5 about Newell’s Old Boys could prove to be a real steal.
All odds and markets accurate as of publication’s time and date
