Corinthians vs Boca Juniors

On the fifth matchday of the Copa Libertadores, a crucial battle for the top spot in Group E will unfold as Boca Juniors welcome Corinthians to La Bombonera in Buenos Aires.

After a 2-0 defeat to Corinthians in late April, the six-time Copa Libertadores winners have been impenetrable, keeping clean sheets in their last five matches across all competitions. Meanwhile, Corinthians showed resilience in their latest outing, rallying from two one-goal deficits to secure a 2-2 draw against Internacional.

With only two games remaining in the group stage, Boca Juniors, one of the most storied clubs in Copa Libertadores history, are just one point behind group leaders Corinthians but only two points clear of fourth-placed Always Ready.

Under manager Sebastian Battaglia, Boca struggled early in the tournament, dropping two of their first three matches, both by 2-0 scorelines. The former Boca defender, a four-time champion of this competition as a player, was likely frustrated with his team’s recent performance against Racing Club, where they managed only 70% pass accuracy and failed to register a single shot on target.

Boca have been dominant at home in this phase of the competition, not conceding a goal at La Bombonera since 2019 and outscoring opponents 13-0 in their last seven home Copa Libertadores matches. When taking the lead, Boca are nearly unbeatable, having not lost a match after scoring first since December 2018, when River Plate overturned a 1-0 deficit to eliminate them 5-3 on aggregate.

The 34-time Argentine champions rely on a high-pressing, triangular system that minimizes their vulnerability to counterattacks.

Corinthians, or Timao, have enjoyed a strong start to 2022, leading the Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A and progressing to the next round of the Copa do Brasil. Competing in the Copa Libertadores group stage for the first time since 2018, they aim to achieve a historic feat: defeating Boca Juniors at La Bombonera, something they’ve never done in this competition.

Timao have been remarkably consistent in the group stage, topping their group in every appearance since finishing second to Flamengo in 1991. Manager Vitor Pereira, who won two Portuguese Primera League titles with FC Porto, is tasked with delivering Corinthians’ first trophy since 2019.

The Sao Paulo-based club from the Tatuape district have lost just one of their last five away matches across all competitions, though they’ve yet to find the net in their two Group E road games. Corinthians often channel their attacks through their creative midfielders, who have excelled at generating scoring opportunities despite operating in a compact formation.