Boca visit Cruzeiro with a big chance to boost Libertadores hopes | OneFootball

Xeneize, unbeaten in its last 14 matches and leading Group D with a perfect record, will play this Tuesday in Belo Horizonte starting at 9:30 p.m. Úbeda will field his best lineup.

In their best moment of recent years, Boca Juniors will face a key test this Tuesday in the Copa Libertadores when they visit Cruzeiro from 9:30 p.m. at the Mineirao stadium, for the third matchday of Group D.

The team coached by Claudio Úbeda arrives in great form, on a run of 14 matches without defeat, with a perfect record in the group and a real chance to take a decisive step toward the round of 16 of the continental tournament.

Even while rotating players, Xeneize has shown remarkable solidity, as happened in the emphatic 4-0 win over Defensa y Justicia, which consolidated not only a reliable starting eleven but also important options off the bench.

In addition, the coaching staff is closely monitoring the recovery of Carlos Palacios and Edinson Cavani, who are close to returning from their respective injuries.

Úbeda fields his best in Belo Horizonte

In what looked like the toughest match of the group stage, Boca will go with its starting lineup, with one forced exception: Leandro Brey will be in goal in place of the injured Agustín Marchesín.

The defense is already almost automatic with Marcelo Weigandt, Lautaro Di Lollo, Ayrton Costa and Lautaro Blanco, while the high-quality midfield will be led by captain Leandro Paredes, alongside Santiago Ascacíbar, Milton Delgado and Tomás Aranda.

Up front, the bet will once again be on the two-striker setup that has been producing results: Miguel Merentiel and Adam Bareiro.

Cruzeiro, under pressure to respond

On the other side will be a Cruzeiro side that urgently needs points. The Brazilian team comes into this Libertadores match reeling after a 2-1 home defeat to Universidad Católica, after having opened with a win over Barcelona de Ecuador.

That setback significantly reduced their margin for error and turned the clash against Boca into a true final for their qualification hopes.

On the domestic front, the team coached by Artur Jorge is coming off an important win over Remo in the Brasileirao, a result that allowed them to move away from the relegation zone.

That victory was so badly needed that the coach decided not to rest his starters, despite the proximity of the Copa clash.

Possible lineups

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