COPA LIBERTADORES
Boca Juniors’ possible starting XI for the 2023 Copa Libertadores final
The Argentine giants will be looking to lift their seventh Libertadores trophy as they face Fluminense on Saturday in Rio.
On Saturday night at the Estadio Maracaná in Rio de Janeiro, Boca Juniors will be looking to add to their six Libertadores titles as they face Fluminense.
Despite the Brazilian side having ‘home’ advantage, Boca come into the final as slight favourites and a look back at previous final wins suggests that the Xeneizes may be on track to equal Independiente’s record of seven Libertadores triumphs.
Four of Boca’s previous final wins have come against Brazilian teams (Cruzeiro won in 1977, Palmeiras in 2000, Santos in 2003 and Gremio in 2007) and no team has ever beaten so many Brazilians in Libertadores finals.
The Buenos Aires side will also be spurred on by the more than 100,000 Boca fans who are expected to descend on the Brazilian city over the weekend although isolated fights between rival fans has already tarnished the party atmosphere with local police being forced to employ tear gas.
Almiron’s possible Boca XI
Ahead of the final, Boca coach Jorge Almirón has been rotating his squad carefully in the domestic campaign and this means the 52-year-old manager has no major injury concerns ahead of Saturday’s game. No surprises are expected in the Boca XI with the suspended Marcos Rojo expected to be replaced by Nicolás Valentini.
Peruvian international Luis Advíncula should start at right-back and the double frontline combining Miguel Merentiel and Edinson Cavani.
Boca (possible) XI vs Fluminense:
Sergio Romero; Luis Advíncula, Jorge Figal, Nicolás Valentini, Frank Fabra; Cristian Medina, Pol Fernández, Equi Fernández, Valentín Barco; Miguel Merentiel and Edinson Cavani.