Win or go home
Boca Juniors face Universidad Católica at La Bombonera in a match that defines the Copa Libertadores campaign. Nothing less than a win keeps Boca alive, a draw or loss means elimination from the group stage (1). You sit second in the league, 30 points from 16 matches with a +13 goal difference, but none of that matters Thursday. This is a final before the knockouts even begin.
Zuqui: 'We're not thinking about a draw'
Former Boca midfielder Fernando Zuqui, now wearing the Universidad Católica shirt, made clear his side are not coming to settle. "We're not thinking about a draw," Zuqui said, adding that he expects the home crowd to demand everything from Boca, and that the pressure cuts both ways (3). He also noted the appointment of Colombian referee Wilmar Roldán, who has a tense history with Boca.
History says you'll go through
Every time Boca have needed a win in the final group match to reach the Libertadores round of 16, they've delivered. Ole reviewed the club's history in these exact must-win scenarios and the record is spotless (2). The stage is set.
Fan reactions
The nerves are real. Multiple threads show fans openly praying and posting that they're already anxious a full day out from kickoff. One supporter summed up the mood simply: "Win or die." Meanwhile, there's some gallows humor, a thread celebrating that Pol Fernández is no longer at the club after he conceded a foolish penalty for his new team, costing them first place in their Libertadores group. Link
