7M - Copa Sudamericana Preview: Boca Juniors vs O'Higgins - prediction, team news, lineups

Featuring in their first-ever knockout match in the Copa Sudamericana, O'Higgins will hope to cause a massive shock when they visit La Bombonera in Buenos Aires for the first leg of their tie with Boca Juniors.

To reach this stage, the Chileans finished second in Group C, just two points behind Sao Paulo, while Azul y Oro wound up third in their Copa Libertadores group, dropping into this tournament.

The Libertadores campaign did not go as they had anticipated, but Boca Juniors will hope to salvage some pride in the Sudamericana this year. Rodolfo Arruabarrena's men dropped points in their final three group fixtures of the Libertadores, relegating them into this competition for the first time since 2024.

This team have reached the last 16 or further in their last two Sudamericana appearances, losing on penalties to Cruzeiro at that stage two years ago. The Argentines enter this contest having won their last two matches—competitive and non-competitive—without conceding in either.

However, before their friendly victory over Athletico Paranaense this month, they had failed to win their last three competitive games at home. Boca have never lost a Sudamericana affair against a side from Chile, but they failed to defeat Universidad Catolica at home in the first leg of that semi-final tie back in 2005.

In the group stage of this tournament, O'Higgins were among the surprise stories, showing plenty of determination while seeing off some experienced South American clubs. Lucas Bovaglio's men edged out Colombian side Millonarios 2-1 in their final group outing to advance into the knockout phase.

That was their only away victory in the group stage, though they won their last road game in early July, 2-1 over Union Espanola in the Copa Chile. O'Higgins enter this encounter on a two-match winning run across all competitions, while going unbeaten in four of their last five competitive fixtures.

They had a 100% record in the group stage when scoring first, doing so on three occasions, while they lost both games in which they conceded the opener. El Capo de Provincia have never scored a goal against a side from Argentina, with their best competitive result against that nation coming in the 2014 Libertadores group stage when they drew 0-0 at Lanus.

Team News

Boca Juniors will be without Rodrigo Battaglia, who is recovering from Achilles tendon surgery, and Agustin Marchesin is also out due to a cruciate ligament tear. Leandro Paredes is unlikely to feature, having played the World Cup final just days ago in a match that could see him suspended for a lengthy period because of his actions afterwards.

Lautaro Di Lollo was among those who scored in Boca's last Libertadores triumph, with Santiago Ascacibar and former midfielder Ander Herrera also netting in a 3-0 win over Ecuadorian side Barcelona.

On the O'Higgins side, Bryan Rabello may not be available because of a left hamstring injury, and Martin Sarrafiore is questionable as he deals with a quad issue. Francisco Gonzalez scored twice in group play to lead them in the Sudamericana, while Bastian Yanez and Alan Robledo netted in their victory over Millonarios.

Boca Juniors possible starting lineup:
Brey; Braida, Di Lollo, Pellegrino, Blanco; Palacios, Alarcon, Velasco; Aranda, Gimenez, Zeballos

O'Higgins possible starting lineup:
Carabali; Faundez, Robledo, Brizuela, Diaz; Leiva, Ogaz; Gonzalez, Maturana, Yanez; Vecino