It is known that the paths of Boca and the Copa Libertadores have always been closely linked, especially since September 14, 1977, when the La Ribera cast won its first continental title by beating Cruzeiro at the Centenario Stadium in Montevideo. Since then, they have 11 finals and 6 consacrations for Xeneize in Libertadores.

Despite the statistics Now Boca’s situation with the Libertadores is not perfectand that is, although Xeneize came off losing to Tigre in the League Cup final and Battaglia seems to have found the team, reached the last date of the group stage with the obligation to beat Deportivo Cali to stay alive in the highest competition on the continental.

And when it comes to statistics, it should be clarified that this is not the first time Boca has reached the deadline that he has to win to stay alive. Background? There are some, but there is unity in one aspect, and that is the removal of Boca on these occasions, and in La Bombonera, will be historic.

The road to the Copa Libertadores in South America is long, it is known. It now has 63 editions and Boca knows how to dispute it up to 31 times. Of them all, he only said goodbye three times on the group stage. The strange thing is that in these three cases he had to close the group stage as a guest.

And that is, Boca were never eliminated in a Copa Libertadores in their field, and on the last date of the group stage, so tonight, Deportivo Cali can make history. Moreover, since the new tournament format was put in place, Boca has hardly said goodbye to the group stage at one time.

The first antecedent began in 1982, when Boca shared a spot on the River, and the Bolivians The Strongest and Jorge Wilstermann. In that edition, only the first in each group qualifies, and Xeneize barely added 4 points. The cast led by Vladislao Cap reached the last date that had been removed, and said goodbye with a fall against River -who finally won the group-, in Monumental.

A similar situation is the Libertadores 1986, where Boca shared a group, again, with River. In addition, their zone was completed by Uruguayans Peñarol and Montevideo Wanderers. The outcome, almost traceable. Boca added 6, and reached the deadline with no chances. The rival was River again, and the match was again played at El Monumental. The result? 1 to 0 for Millionaire, who remained in that group.

The last of the antecedents took place in 1994, when Boca shared a group with Vélez, and the Brazilians Cruzeiro and Palmeiras. The group is complex, but the format is highly dependent. The first 3 of the group qualify. Boca reached the deadline with an obligation to win 2 goals ahead against Cruzeiro in Belo Horizonte. Finally it was defeat 2 to 1 and elimination.

At La Bombonera, win or win

When thinking about what’s to come in Boca, The first thing to clarify is that Xeneize just has to win, or else, fight back and wait for an Always Ready act., playing in Brazil against the Corinthians. The goal difference, in principle, will not carry much weight, and Boca enough to add three.

Now, though Boca he was never eliminated on the last date of the group stage on his courtyes, there were instances where it remained one step away from letting Libertadores on the group stage, and at La Bombonera. The most memorable, perhaps occurred in 2007, was the edition for which Xeneize finally dedicated itself.

In that Copa Libertadores 2007, shared an area in Toluca, Cienciano and Bolívar. The group, even on paper, seemed easily accessible to Boca, but the reality is very different. On the final date, those led by Miguel Ángel Russo arrived with the obligation to win against a removed Bolívar. And there was a happy ending. It was 7 out of 0 and qualification for Bocawhich will end with raising the glass.

A similar case is the memorable Copa Libertadores 2018, where Boca reached the final. In that edition, Xeneize shared a group with Palmeiras, Junior and Alianza Lima. The context? Same as tonight. Boca closed against an Alianza Lima that had already been eliminated, and was forced to win. In addition, he must hope that Palmeiras does not give up points against Junior in Brazil.

The outcome of that night was unforgivable. 5-0 for La Bombonera, and 3-1 for Verdão, to finally make it to the round of 16 led by Guillermo Barros Schelotto. Tonight, from 9:00 pm, Boca will seek to continue with Libertadores, and for this he had to add three to the Colombians.