Day: May 16, 2018

This Copa Libertadores game brings together Argentina’s Boca Juniors and Alianza Lima with the home side needing nothing but a win if they want to have a chance of competing at the knockout phase. Even if they win this game, they would need Palmeiras to avoid a  home defeat at the hands of Colombia’s junior for them to have a chance at the next round.

Boca Juniors came into this competition as huge favourites, boasting some of the biggest players in the continent, yet they failed to win more than one of their five group games so far, and they now need Palmeiras to do them a favour before they can reach the next round. They remain favourites to win the competition, and their fans would expect nothing less.

Boca’s form in this competition is made more shocking by the fact that they have been dominant domestically and just won the Argentine league title after a season spent dominating their rivals. They, however, have a solid home form ahead of this game with nine wins from their last twelve home games.

It has been yet another terrible season in this competition for Alianza Lima who have now lost 14 of their last 18 games in this competition.

They have collected just one point from this competition this season and that in a home draw against this same opponent, and they would be hoping they can frustrate their host here again as they have nothing to play for.

Despite ending their season with a comfortable 4-1 over already relegated FC Cologne, Wolfsburg still ended their season in 16th position and they are now expected to confirm their top-flight status via the relegation playoffs for the second year running.

Bruno Labbadia who has guided the team to just two wins, three draws and six losses is expected to stick with the same line up that demolished Cologne on that final day of the season. Liverpool loanee, Divock Origi would be expected to lead the line here again, while John Brooks would be helping their defence deal with Marvin Ducksch who ended the season as Bundesliga 2 top scorer with 18 goals.

Kiel would be looking to finish an amazing 2017/2018 season in style by sealing their second consecutive promotion this time, to the Bundesliga.

They surprised everyone this season as they were just promoted to the German second tier last season, and their manager who takes over at FC Cologne after this game would be looking to round off in style by taking them to the top flight.

They rested most of their stars in their game against Eintracht Braunschweig and still ended up winners by a 6-2 margin, that score would give them some hope that they can do the unthinkable here yet again.

Wolfsburg’s 9-1 win over Holstein Kiel in 1986 is the joint-biggest in their history.