A place in the knockout stages of the Copa Libertadores will be up for grabs in Group E when Boca Juniors play host to Deportivo Cali at the Estadio Alberto Jose Armando on Thursday.
The Argentine outfit head into the game fresh off the back of picking up their first piece of silverware of the season and will look to keep the juggernaut rolling.
Match preview
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Boca Juniors were crowned champions of the Copa de la Liga as they cruised to a 3-0 victory over Tigres when the sides squared off at the Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes last Sunday.
Former Manchester United defender Marcos Rojo opened the scoring on the stroke of half time before Frank Fanta and Luis Vazquez scored second-half goals to cap off a sensational team performance.
Sebastian Battaglia's men are now unbeaten in each of their last seven games across all competitions, picking up six wins and one draw since a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Corinthians on April 27.
With seven points from five games, Boca Juniors are currently third in Group E of the Copa Libertadores, three points above rock-bottom Always Ready and one adrift of Thursday's hosts at the top of the pile.
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Deportivo Cali, on the other hand, edged closer to a place in the knockout stages last time out when they eased to a 3-0 victory over 10-man Always Read at the Estadio Deportivo Cali.
Colombian forward Jhon Vasquez turned in a performance of the highest quality in front of the home crowd as he scored a brace to put the hosts in a comfortable lead before Harold Mosquera completed the rout in the 74th minute.
Prior to that, Rafael Dudamel's men saw their five-game unbeaten run come to an end on May 15 when they fell to a 3-0 loss at the hands of Patriotas Boyaca in the Colombian top flight, where they are currently bottom but one in the standings after picking up 11 points from 20 games.
While Deportivo Cali will be looking to pick up successive wins for the first time since the turn of the year and confirm their place in the playoffs, they have struggled to get going on the road, where they are winless in all but one of their last eight outings, picking up four draws and losing three in that time.
Los Verdiblancos also face the stern test of taking on a spirited Boca Juniors side who are unbeaten in each of their most recent nine outings on home turf, picking up five wins and four draws in that time.
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Team News
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Boca Juniors will take to the pitch without the services of veteran midfielder Diego Gonzalez after the 34-year-old sustained a meniscus injury in April's game against Barracas Central.
Twenty-six-year-old forward Norberto Briasco is also out of contention for the Argentine outfit as he continues his long journey to full fitness after picking up an ankle problem last November.
With his brace of assists against Tigre, Sebastian Villa now has 12 goal involvements in 17 Serie A outings and we expect the Colombian forward to spearhead the Boca Juniors' attack once again.
As for Deportivo Cali, Dudamel will be unable to call upon the services of Jorge Marsiglia, who has been out of action since coming off injured against America De Cali back in April.
He is joined on the club's injury table by Angelo Rodriguez, who is set to sit out his third consecutive game after picking up an injury against Fortaleza on May 13.
Deportivo Cali will be boosted by the return of the defensive duo of Guillermo Burdisso and Christian Mafla, who both missed the 3-0 victory over Always Ready after crossing the yellow card threshold with their bookings against Corinthians on May 5.
Boca Juniors possible starting lineup:
Rossi; Advincula, Zambrano, Izquierdoz, Fabra; Varela; Salvio, Fernandez, Romero, Zeballos; Benedetto
Deportivo Cali possible starting lineup:
De Amores; Gutierrez, Nazarit, Caldera, Velasco; Camargo, Congo; Vasquez, Gutierrez, Mosquera; Gonzalez
We say: Boca Juniors 2-1 Deportivo Cali
With a place in the playoffs potentially on the line, we anticipate a thrilling encounter with both sides taking the game to each other in search of all three points. Boca Juniors head into the game unbeaten in nine straight home games and we predict they will keep this fine run going and come away with all three points.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Joshua Ojele
