What Boca need v Cruzeiro and the routes to Libertadores last 16 | OneFootball

Boca’s path in the Copa Libertadores got bogged down more than expected after a promising start. Although the draw had already been billed as the “group of death,” and predictions suggested it would not be an easy battle for Claudio Úbeda’s side, the recent back-to-back defeats left them with no margin for error heading into the final two matchdays. The first real test will be against Cruzeiro this Tuesday: what do they need?

The Group D standings show Universidad Católica and Cruzeiro at the top with seven points, with the important detail that the Chilean side leads on the Olympic tiebreaker (they had won in Brazil). Boca, meanwhile, sit third with six points (and would currently be eliminated), while Barcelona SC are bottom with three points.

Based on that, the first thing worth clarifying is that Boca depend on themselves to qualify for the Copa Libertadores round of 16, considering they will face Cruzeiro and Universidad Católica. What is the outlook?

What Boca need to qualify for the Libertadores round of 16: all possible scenarios

-They will qualify as group winners, regardless of any other result.

– If they draw with Cruzeiro and beat Universidad Católica, they qualify.

– If they beat Cruzeiro by 2 or more goals and draw with Universidad Católica, they qualify.

– If they beat Cruzeiro by 1 goal and draw with Universidad Católica, they qualify only if the Chilean side do not beat Barcelona. If Universidad Católica win that match, Boca will decide 2nd place with the Brazilians on overall goal difference in the group. Boca would finish at +3, and Cruzeiro would need to beat Barcelona by a 3-goal margin to force a tiebreak on goals scored in the group, fewer red cards, fewer yellow cards, or a draw of lots, in that order.

– If they win one and lose one, to qualify in 2nd place they will need Barcelona to take a draw off the same team Boca beat.

– If they draw both matches, they qualify in 2nd place if Barcelona beat Universidad Católica and do not beat Cruzeiro.

– If Barcelona win both, they finish 1st, and Boca, Cruzeiro, and Universidad Católica will settle 2nd place on goal difference in the group, goals scored in the group, fewer red cards, fewer yellow cards, or a draw of lots, in that order.

– If Barcelona beat Cruzeiro and not Universidad Católica, or if they win neither of the two, Boca are eliminated.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.