Against All Odds: Boca Juniors to flop at home again

3Apr 2013

Copa Libertadores

Boca Juniors are a very short price for their Copa Libertadores clash with Barcelona at 23:45 tonight but after losing both their home matches so far, Paul Robinson thinks that Betfair Live Video viewers could be in for an upset.

There is no denying that Boca Juniors have made a poor start to their season. They are down in 16th in their domestic league after picking up just seven points from their opening seven fixtures and they have struggled to put their Copa Libertadores group to bed, despite finishing as runners up in this competition last year.

Surprisingly, both of their victories have come away from Argentina as at their home of Estadio Alberto J. Armando, Boca have lost to Toluca and Nacional. That can't fill manager, Carlos Bianchi with too much confidence heading into this evening's crucial fixture with Barcelona, even though they did manage to beat them in Ecuador.

Barcelona, the Ecuadorian version, not the Spanish one, need at least a point if they want to have any chance of progressing to the next round in their first go in this competition since 2004. In reality though, only a victory will likely do and that's not something they've managed from four attempts.

In fairness to Gustavo Costas' side, they have only lost one of their four matches and a draw would be more than good enough for us. They are currently unbeaten in five in all competitions and haven't conceded a goal for 367 minutes.

If Barcelona's defence manages to frustrate Boca in the early part of the game then the home fans and players will feel the tension begin to mount and there is every chance that the Argentines could lose their heads. Their current odds of 1.64 just aren't warranted on this year's form and that's why I have to make Boca Juniors my lay of the day.