Bolívar hosts Internacional in the Copa Libertadores this Tuesday, aiming to gain an advantage in the first leg of the quarter-finals, to be held at Estadio Hernando Siles.
Copa Libertadores – Quarter-finals – 1st Leg
August 22, 2023 at 6pm (Bolivia), 11pm (UK), 12am (Italy), 7pm (Brazil), 2pm (USA, Los Angeles),
Estadio Hernando Siles
The Bolivian side knocked out Athletico Paranaense to advance from the round of 16, while the Brazilians ousted River Plate.
Bolívar hasn’t made it to the Copa Libertadores semi-finals since 2014, nine years have passed for the Bolivian team since they reached the quarters, and this year poses a colossal opportunity for the squad.
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In the previous round, they triumphed over a Brazilian team – Athletico – albeit requiring penalties to win after the tie concluded 3-3 on aggregate.
Benat San José’s team claimed three home victories in all group stage fixtures, scoring six and conceding just one, and defeated their last 16 opponents 3-1 in front of their fans.
This gives the home side reasons to cheer as they seek a result enhancing their semi-final prospects.
As for Internacional, the team has tasted defeat once in the competition – a 2-1 loss to River Plate in the previous round, yet tied on aggregate before the eventual penalty shootout success.
They’ve found the net in all four of their away fixtures in this year’s competition, even though just one win was secured in those away matches – a 2-1 triumph over Metropolitanos.
Eduardo Coudet’s side has struggled to keep clean sheets on the continent, and an elimination is not anticipated when visiting a team inclined to find the net on their own turf.
Before the loss to River, the Brazilian side had gone five away fixtures in the Libertadores without defeat, but that streak was snapped by the Argentinean team.
Another unbeaten run might commence this Tuesday, but chances look slim given the home strength of the Bolivian side.
Potential Bolívar starting lineup:
Lampe; Bejarano, Ferreyra, Quinteros; Sagredo, Justiniano, Saucedo, Uzeda; Vaca, Algranaz, Rodríguez
Probable Internacional starting lineup:
Rochet; Bustos, Vitalão, Mercado, Renê; Aranguiz, Gabriel; Maurício, Patrick, Wanderson; Valência
Prediction: Bolívar 2-1 Internacional
Bolívar is expected to notch up five wins in five when they host Internacional in Bolivia, with the latter’s indifferent away form potentially coming back to bite them defensively.
