Stadium: Nemesio Diez

Referee: Jorge Larrionda (Uruguay)

Toluca (Mexico)

The team came from a unbelivable defeat against Bolivar on home, where they fall 1-2, excess of truth and defensive mistakes was their sin in that match. Because after a good opening against Cienciano where the team won 0-2 away with substitutes, the defeat home was a hard thing to take.

Toluca will receive Boca Juniors with the added element that FW Bruno Marioni was Toluca and last tournament best striker. Also Toluca needs to take points from this match because altough their first victory on away the team is on the least position of the group, in the positive is that just one point separates them from the first place precisely Boca Juniors.

In local tournament the team finally have the good workto obtain a victory, after eight matches, where they accumulate seven draws and one defeat. This result bring high morale to the team as it highlights that the defence has go back to be solid as they don't allow goal and the always good quality of FW Vicente Sanchez scoring.

Toluca have a team with fond on defensive, leaded by GK Hernan Cristante and DF Paulo Da Silva. The team focus on building attacking opportunities but also takes handy the counterattack that with Vicente Sanchez is the housemark.

Toluca will field their best team to wash their image after the defeat against Bolivar which leave the team really hurt in the pride.

Boca Juniors (Argentina

The team open Libertadores Cup with a draw in Bolivar, after which they file a claim that conmebol turn down. Next game Boca won to Bolivar after a late goal of Hugo Ibarra save the team from the inminent draw and deliver three points that take the team to the first position.

In local tournament the team won 1-3 to Estudiantes (current champion, that won the decisive match to Boca Juniors) which was consider as revenge for taking the title. In this match FW Martín Palermo score a hattrick. With this result the team gets to the third position, just three points behind San Lorenzo, Boca has just concede one defeat in this clausura.

In this match FW Bruno Marioni returns to encounter his last club in México, just three months ago he was figthing in the semifinals with Toluca, he stated to the media that if the scores he isn't going to celebrate it, due to the respect he has for that institution.

Some other players that have played in Mexico are GK Mauricio Caranta (last tournament with Santos), Sergio Orteman (with atlas time ago), Daniel "Cata" Diaz (Cruz Azul time ago). Their experience will be key in this match.

Absences:

FW Martin Palermo

FW Rodrigo Palacio

MF Juan Román Riquelme

Match:

Toluca will focus on defense as is what they do best, but I expect a team that will be attacking more this time. Boca Juniors will hold to their complete defence and expect to do something in the attack.

Prediction:

This is the more level match of the round, and altough Boca absences they are given nice prize, which really should be more, just have to go back some years in memory to remember how they lost 4-0 to chivas back in 2005. However Toluca isn't on their best moment, but they continue to pounder a good quality good defending, altough not excellent as last season indeed very well, so I sense that Toluca could get something.

Pick : Toluca
Odds : 1.97
Stake : 6 / 10
Bookmaker : Bet365
Date : 2007-03-15
Match Result :
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