Boca on the brink of Libertadores elimination after draw with Cruzeiro. Boca failed to beat Cruzeiro and now faces the risk of being knocked out of the Copa Libertadores. To advance to the playoffs, the club must defeat Universidad Católica in the final round.
After drawing their match with Cruzeiro at La Bombonera, Boca Juniors' position in the Copa Libertadores group has sharply worsened. Universidad Católica, having beaten Barcelona from Ecuador, took the lead in the group and put the Argentine club in a must-win situation for the final round. Now Boca, with 7 points, sits third in the standings, behind Universidad Católica (10 points) and Cruzeiro (8 points). Barcelona, with just 3 points, has already lost any chance of progressing, even in the Copa Sudamericana.
The situation in Group D is such that to qualify for the round of 16, Boca must beat Universidad Católica. A win guarantees the Argentinians a spot in the playoffs, but first place in the group is possible only if Cruzeiro does not beat Barcelona. If Boca draws or loses, the team will be eliminated in the group stage: a draw leaves the club out due to worse head-to-head records, while a loss automatically ends their campaign.
Both decisive matches of the sixth round will take place on May 28 at 21:30: Boca will host Universidad Católica, and Cruzeiro will face Barcelona. In the event of a points tie between teams, the regulations dictate that the advantage is determined by head-to-head results, followed by goal difference in those matches, the number of goals scored, overall goal difference, goals scored in the group, then by fewer red and yellow cards, and, if necessary, by drawing lots.
The system for determining the best teams in South American tournaments has often been a topic of discussion. For example, recently in the Copa Libertadores, a dramatic ending in the match between Junior and Sporting Cristal also decided the fate of reaching the playoffs — you can read more about this in the article about Junior's dramatic victory.
For reference: The Copa Libertadores is the main club tournament in South America. Its winner earns the right to participate in the Club World Cup. In recent years, Argentine and Brazilian clubs have traditionally been considered favorites. However, unexpected results in the group stage often lead to strong teams being eliminated. If Boca Juniors fail, they will not be able to continue competing even in the Copa Sudamericana, since third place in the group is already out of reach for Barcelona, and the remaining teams are fighting only for a spot in the round of 16.
