Palmeiras vs Boca Juniors Prediction & Match Preview

The stage is set for the final showdown between Palmeiras and Boca Juniors as the continent’s heavyweights will lock horns in the reverse game of the Copa Libertadores semifinal on Thursday evening at Allianz Parque.

The Brazilian outfit managed to survive the trip to Buenos Aires where they held on to a goalless draw seven days ago in the first leg of the tie.

Boca Juniors were a much better team on the pitch but their out-of-form strikers just failed to convert any of numerous chances of the occasion.

Palmeiras opted for defense on the occasion, registering no more than a couple of shots on target in the 90 minutes of play in the Argentinean capital.

The Brazilians are now the favorites to advance because of the home court advantage in the return fixture. They have been impeccable in Sao Paulo in the last couple of months, going unbeaten in six straight outings in their own backyard across competitions.

Abel Ferreira’s men kept their net untouched in five straight fixtures on the home turf in all competitions. Interestingly, none of these five outings provided two or more goals.

Boca Juniors have also failed to find the net in the weekend’s big Argentine derby against River Plate, falling 0-2 at their Estadio Alberto Jose Armando on the occasion.

Latest Meetings

The two teams last played each other five years ago, also in the Copa Libertadores semifinal.

Back then, Boca Juniors advanced 4-2 on aggregate courtesy of a 2-0 victory in Buenos Aires.

Only one of the last five matches between these rivals provided three or more goals.

The Verdict

We expect another close affair between two similarly-matched outfits. The stakes are just too big for either manager to take unnecessary risks. Both teams have generally been much better defensively than offensively of late.

The Under 2.5 goals FT is the best betting option at the 1.61 odds while we will also take the 1.90 odds offered for Palmeiras to keep a clean sheet, knowing they haven’t conceded in five successive home matches in all competitions.

Steffen Schmidt- October 4, 2023

Palmeiras vs Boca Juniors Betting Tips

Under 2.5 goals

OK

1.63 Odds

Palmeiras to keep a clean sheet

OK

1.91 Odds