This Tuesday, Alianza Lima will attempt to achieve a historic feat by facing Boca Juniors in the first leg of the second round of the Copa Libertadores. The Peruvian team arrives with great hope, although their Argentine rival is considered the favorite. Alianza Lima advanced to this stage after defeating Nacional from Paraguay, with a 1-1 draw in Asunción and a 3-1 victory in Lima, which generated optimism within the squad led by Néstor Gorosito.

Follow the live match on Tuesday, February 18, 2025, at 7:20 PM ET on beIN SPORTS USA and enjoy all the excitement of the Copa Libertadores

Alianza Lima After the Defeat Against Alianza Atlético

However, the team's morale was affected by a surprising 3-1 defeat against Alianza Atlético in the Apertura Tournament. This loss occurred on the same day as the club’s 124th anniversary and with the main lineup, which was a hard blow for Alianza. Despite this setback, Gorosito reaffirmed his optimism and stated that his team still has “the utmost hope” for the match against Boca Juniors.

The Argentine coach will have almost his full squad available, although the absences of Pablo Lavandeira and Paolo Guerrero, who have not fully recovered from their injuries, remain a concern. Despite these setbacks, Alianza Lima will look to recover quickly and live up to the expectations of a major South American club.

Follow the live match on Tuesday, February 18, 2025, at 7:20 PM ET on beIN SPORTS USA and enjoy all the excitement of the Copa Libertadores

The Challenge of Boca Juniors in Lima

On the other hand, Boca Juniors arrives in Lima with a recent 1-0 win over Banfield in the Argentine tournament, but also with several key absences. Edison Cavani, Marcos Rojo, Luis Advíncula, and Ander Herrera will not be available for the match. Despite these absences, the team led by Fernando Gago remains the big favorite for this match, as highlighted by the president of Boca, Juan Román Riquelme, who noted that the game will be a “final” in Peru.

This matchup between Alianza Lima and Boca Juniors promises to be an exciting and challenging duel for both teams. The Peruvian side, despite recent difficulties, will look to surprise the xeneizes and leave their mark on this edition of the Copa Libertadores. With the support of their fans and the confidence of their coach, Alianza Lima hopes to show its ability to compete at the highest level in South American football.

Follow the live match on Tuesday, February 18, 2025, at 7:20 PM ET on beIN SPORTS USA and enjoy all the excitement of the Copa Libertadores

Probable lineups:

Alianza Lima: Guillermo Viscarra, Renzo Garcés, Carlos Zambrano, Erick Noriega, Miguel Trauco, Guillermo Enrique, Pablo Cepellini, Fernando Gaibor, Kevin Quevedo, Eryc Castillo, and Hernán Barcos.

Coach: Néstor Gorosito.

Boca Juniors: Agustín Marchesín, Lautaro Di Lollo, Rodrigo Battaglia, Ayrton Costa, Juan Barinaga, Marcelo Saracchi, Camilo Rey Domenech, Williams Alarcón, Carlos Palacios, Miguel Merentiel, and Exequiel Zeballos.

Coach: Fernando Gago.

Referee: Uruguayan Esteban Ostojich, assisted by his compatriots Nicolás Tarán and Martín Soppi.

Time: 07:20 p.m. ET (00:30 GMT on Wednesday).

Venue: Alejandro Villanueva Stadium.