Boca Juniors vs Fluminense Prediction: Who will emerge winners of the Copa Libertadores?

The final round of the Copa Libertadores is just around the corner, set to take place at the prestigious Maracana Stadium. It features a highly anticipated clash between one of South America's most illustrious clubs, Boca Juniors, and the four-time Brazilian champions, Fluminense. Notably, Fluminense will be playing at their home ground in Rio de Janeiro, adding a unique element to the encounter. Both teams have delivered exceptional performances to reach the finals of this prestigious competition, with Boca Juniors even surpassing three Brazilian teams in the final four. As Boca aims to join record-holders Independiente with seven Libertadores titles, Fluminense is appearing in only their second final. Both squads are currently in outstanding form, intensifying the anticipation for the impending final showdown on Saturday. Here are some carefully considered tips for the upcoming match.

Boca Juniors are set to make their 12th appearance in a Copa Libertadores final, and the omens certainly favor the 35-time Argentine champions. While Boca is vying for a record-equaling seventh title, they haven't claimed the trophy since 2007. This title came a year before Fluminense's sole appearance in the final. In that memorable victory, Boca Juniors defeated Gremio 5-0 over two legs.

Boca Juniors secured the top position in their Copa Libertadores group and advanced to the finals after a thrilling penalty shootout victory against Palmeiras. They also secured their qualification to the semi-finals in a similar fashion. Despite their decent performance in their domestic league, currently standing in 7th place, the allure of the Copa Libertadores continues to be a driving force, with the prestigious final against Fluminense on the horizon.

Fluminense, who secured a third-place finish in Serie A last year and currently hold the eighth position in Brazil's top-tier league, made their first Libertadores final appearance in 2008. Notably, the second leg of the final was held at the Maracana. Fluminense has experienced a recent setback, suffering three losses in their last five league games. This dip in form can be partly attributed to their focus on the upcoming Copa Libertadores finals, for which key players were rested in their last league match as part of their preparation for the Finals.

Fluminense's journey in the Copa Libertadores has been filled with remarkable achievements, culminating in their progress to the semi-finals. In the quarter-finals, they delivered a convincing performance against Olimpia, securing victories in both legs of the tie and an impressive 5-1 aggregate score. Additionally, Fluminense secured their place in the Copa Libertadores finals by staging a remarkable comeback in the second leg against Internacional, ultimately winning the game 1-2 despite initially trailing in goals.

Both teams have met 6 times with Boca Juniors securing two victories, 2 victories for Fluminense, and 2 draws. They have met twice in the knockout stages of the tournament; the 2008 semi-finals with Flunminense advancing to the next round and the 2012 quarter-finals with Boca Juniors winning.

Fluminense has demonstrated their strength in the Copa Libertadores, remaining unbeaten in their last seven matches, with four wins and three draws. In contrast, Boca Juniors is on an eight-game unbeaten streak in the Copa Libertadores, but six of those matches ended in draws. Remarkably, all of Boca's draws have occurred in the knockout stage, making them the first team to reach a final without winning a match since the round of 16. Given Boca Juniors' defensive vulnerabilities, they might concede a goal in the first half if not careful. We believe Fluminense is well-positioned to win at least one half of the game at 1.64 odds.

Both teams are currently facing challenges in their respective domestic leagues, with Fluminense winning just one of their last seven league games and Boca Juniors recording three wins, two losses, and a draw in their last six league matches. Anticipating an attacking style of play, we expect high corner lines in the game. However, we also foresee a cautious approach from both managers. Betting on a total of under (9) corners at 1.83 odds appears to be a sensible choice.