Boca Juniors vs O’Higgins predictions headline Thursday night’s Copa Sudamericana round-of-32 action. The Argentine giants welcome the Chilean underdogs to La Bombonera in Buenos Aires for the first leg of their knockout tie. Kick-off is at 12:30am (UK time) on Friday, with the return fixture in Rancagua scheduled for 31st July.
Boca dropped into this competition after finishing third in their Copa Libertadores group. O’Higgins qualified by finishing second in Sudamericana Group C, behind Sao Paulo. This marks the Chileans’ first-ever knockout match in the tournament. The atmosphere at La Bombonera will test their composure from the first whistle.
Boca Juniors vs O’Higgins predictions and betting tips
| OUR PREDICTION | ODDS & BOOKMAKER | CONFIDENCE | WHY WE’RE BACKING IT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boca Juniors to win to nil | 4/5 with bet365 (56%) | ★★★ | One statistic towers above all others in this fixture. O’Higgins have never scored a goal against Argentine opposition in competitive football. Their best result against a side from Argentina came in the 2014 Copa Libertadores group stage, a goalless draw at Lanus. Every other visit has ended without troubling the scoresheet. Boca have won their last two matches without conceding. Rodolfo Arruabarrena’s defence has tightened considerably since his appointment in June. The Bombonera factor adds another dimension. Few visiting sides emerge from the cauldron unscathed. Boca have never lost a Copa Sudamericana match against Chilean clubs. The hosts should claim a comfortable first-leg advantage with a clean sheet intact. |
| Lautaro Di Lollo anytime goalscorer | 11/1 with Sky Bet (8%) | ★★ | The 22-year-old centre-back has developed a habit of finding the net from set-pieces. Di Lollo has scored six goals in 71 appearances for Boca, an impressive return for a defender. He netted in their last Libertadores victory, a 3-0 triumph over Ecuadorian side Barcelona SC. Boca will enjoy a significant set-piece advantage at La Bombonera. O’Higgins’ defensive organisation will face its sternest test against the physical presence of Boca’s back line at corners and free-kicks. Di Lollo’s aerial threat makes him a live option in the goalscorer markets. Santiago Ascacibar’s deliveries from set-pieces should supply the young defender with opportunities to add to his tally. |
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How both teams head into Boca Juniors vs O’Higgins
Boca Juniors
The Libertadores exit still stings. Boca dropped points in their final three group matches, consigning them to this competition for the first time since 2024. Head coach Claudio Ubeda paid the price and was sacked on 2nd June. Arruabarrena arrived on 18th June with a mandate to salvage the continental campaign.
Early signs are encouraging. Two wins without conceding in their most recent outings suggest Arruabarrena has steadied the ship. The 3-0 Libertadores victory over Barcelona SC was the standout result. Di Lollo, Ascacibar and former midfielder Ander Herrera all found the net that night, though Herrera has since departed the club.
Home form demands scrutiny, though. Before their recent friendly win over Athletico Paranaense, Boca had failed to win three consecutive competitive matches at La Bombonera. The crowd will expect a statement performance against opponents from Chile’s second tier of South American football. Angel Romero’s arrival from Corinthians as a free agent adds attacking quality. Exequiel Zeballos contributes one goal and three assists across all competitions this season.
O’Higgins
The Chileans have written a fairy-tale chapter in this tournament. Finishing second in Group C behind Sao Paulo was a significant achievement for a club with limited continental experience. Lucas Bovaglio’s men edged out Colombian side Millonarios 2-1 in their final group match to secure passage into the knockout phase.
Francisco Gonzalez led the scoring in the group stage with two goals. Bastian Yanez and Alan Robledo also netted in the victory over Millonarios. O’Higgins arrive on a two-match winning run across all competitions. They have gone unbeaten in four of their last five competitive fixtures.
The away record is the concern. Just one victory on the road in the group stage leaves Bovaglio with work to do in Buenos Aires. Their 100% record when scoring first offers hope. They won all three group matches in which they opened the scoring. However, they lost both games in which they conceded first. That pattern could prove decisive at La Bombonera, where the home crowd drives Boca to fast starts.
Boca Juniors team news
Arruabarrena faces a significant injury crisis. Goalkeeper Agustin Marchesin is a long-term absentee with a cruciate ligament tear. Midfielder Rodrigo Battaglia is recovering from Achilles tendon surgery. Tomas Belmonte is nursing a sprained ankle. Striker Adam Bareiro, forward Milton Gimenez, winger Carlos Palacios and defender Leandro Lozano are all sidelined through injury.
Leandro Paredes is a major doubt. The midfielder played in the World Cup final just days ago. Any suspension or fitness concerns from that match could rule him out entirely.
Leandro Brey should start in goal. Di Lollo and Marcos Pellegrino are expected to form the centre-half partnership. Lautaro Blanco will operate at left-back. Ascacibar should anchor the midfield. Zeballos and Romero offer pace and creativity in the forward positions.
O’Higgins team news
Bovaglio has two injury concerns ahead of the trip to Buenos Aires. Bryan Rabello is nursing a left hamstring injury and faces a late fitness test. Martin Sarrafiore is dealing with a quad issue that leaves his availability in doubt.
Goalkeeper Carabali is set to start behind a back four of Faundez, Robledo, Brizuela and Diaz. Leiva and Ogaz should sit in central midfield. Gonzalez and Yanez will occupy the wide positions, with Maturana supporting lone striker Vecino.
Head-to-head
This is the first competitive meeting between Boca Juniors and O’Higgins. The two clubs have no prior history in South American continental competition.
The broader record between Argentine and Chilean clubs in this fixture’s context favours Boca. The Buenos Aires giants have never lost a Copa Sudamericana match against Chilean opposition. Their most notable tie against a Chilean side came in the 2005 Sudamericana semi-final against Universidad Catolica. Boca failed to win the first leg at home on that occasion.
O’Higgins’ record against Argentine clubs is sobering. They have never scored against opposition from Argentina in competitive matches. Their solitary positive result came in a goalless draw at Lanus during the 2014 Libertadores group stage.
Who comes out on top at La Bombonera?
Boca Juniors are overwhelming favourites for this first leg. The gulf in squad quality, home advantage and continental experience all point firmly in the hosts’ direction. Sports Mole predict a 3-0 home victory.
Our picks reflect the one-sided nature of this contest. Boca to win to nil is the headline selection. O’Higgins’ record of never scoring against Argentine opposition is a statistic that cannot be ignored. The Bombonera atmosphere will test nerves that have never been exposed to a knockout round at this level.
Di Lollo anytime goalscorer adds a player-specific angle. The young defender’s six goals in 71 appearances demonstrate a genuine threat from set-pieces. He scored in Boca’s most recent Libertadores triumph. With Arruabarrena’s side likely to dominate corners and free-kicks, Di Lollo offers value in a market where most attention falls on the forward line. This should be a comfortable evening for the hosts as they look to build a decisive first-leg advantage.
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