Author: Barkha Roy
The semi-final stage of South America’s most prestigious club competition features three powerful Brazilian teams and Argentina’s renowned Boca Juniors.
This year’s tournament has brought back some of the well-known unpredictability that characterizes the league. It was truly impressive to witness Bolívar’s performance in the extreme altitude of La Paz, and Pereira’s Colombian newcomers making their mark on the competition.
Fluminense vs Internacional – Preview
Both Fluminense and Internacional booked their places in the semi-finals, continuing the trend of Brazilian teams reaching the final for the fifth year running.
These two teams met at the Maracanã Stadium in June, when Fluminense won 2-0 in Serie A. The result wasn’t surprising, given the dominance Fernando Diniz has established at home this season.
To find out the last time Fluminense were beaten at home, you have to go back to January, when they lost 1-0 to Botafogo in the Campeonato Carioca. Since then, the team has played 25 matches, winning 20 of them and drawing only five.
Diniz employs a style of play that allows his attacking players to express themselves freely, without restrictions on their positions on the opposing pitch. This strategy allows his players to press aggressively and dominate possession, which has proved effective, including the win over Internacional in June.
On the other hand, Internacional have struggled away from home, winning just one of their last eight games, including a 2-0 defeat to Fluminense. The team have scored just three goals in their last five away games, one of which was a significant error by the goalkeeper in the 3-1 defeat to Botafogo. If Internacional continue to struggle to score goals, it will be a difficult task to keep Fluminense at bay. In 2023, the hosts have only been beaten twice at the Maracanã, and all the signs point to a victory for them in this match.
Forecast
Considering the current state of both teams, making a prediction for this match is a challenging task. To add to the complexity, the September 28 match is expected to be played in wet conditions, which could significantly affect the performance of both teams.
It’s important to note that these squads are equal in terms of strength. They have scored an almost identical number of goals and have the same number of wins. Consequently, it’s fair to say that there’s no clear favorite for this game, and it’s very likely that the match will end in a draw. However, it’s worth mentioning that there should still be chances to score, and we can predict that at least one more goal will be scored during the match.
Boca Juniors – Palmeiras – Preview
Meanwhile, Boca Juniors are not just representing Argentina, but the entire continent, as they want to avoid an all-Brazilian final.
It’s fair to say that they had a relatively easy group stage and a less challenging path to the semi-finals than most teams. Counting on two penalty shootouts to advance will only take them so far, and now they’re set to face the tournament favorites, which could lead to a frustrating night at La Bombonera.
In the first leg of the quarter-final at home, Boca had drawn 0-0 with Racing. Despite dominating the game and the statistics, the team couldn’t penetrate Racing’s defense, which hasn’t been very efficient as a visitor throughout the campaign.
In contrast, Palmeiras showed consistency throughout the tournament. Their only defeat away from home was against Bolívar in La Paz, when the team rotated heavily. Abel Ferreira knows that his team can maintain a solid defensive stance and become more aggressive when necessary.
This was evident when they secured a 1-0 lead against Athletico MG in the Round of 16. Against higher quality opponents, Palmeiras seem capable of raising their game and putting in professional displays.
Ferreira will be confident of his team’s ability to perform well at home, given their strong record in Brazil. Their main objective is to frustrate Boca Juniors in front of their home fans, and if any club in this competition can do that, it’s the 2021 champions.
Forecast
Although Boca Juniors may not have a clear advantage in terms of player quality compared to Palmeiras, the Argentine side is prepared to put in a strong performance in the first leg of the Copa America semi-finals. It may not guarantee a win, but it certainly has the ability to get a draw on Thursday.