The River Plate team experienced a situation in 2019 similar to the one Boca Juniors currently faces in the Copa Libertadores. On that occasion, River shared a group with Alianza Lima and ended up losing the final against Flamengo. Unlike River, Boca does not share a group with Alianza Lima this time, facing them in a knockout phase. The question now is whether the 'curse' surrounding Alianza Lima will impact the performance of the Argentine team.
Boca Juniors will play the playoff of the 2025 Copa Libertadores against Alianza Lima. The first leg will take place on Tuesday, February 18, as visitors, while the return leg is scheduled for Tuesday, February 25, at home. The third phase is yet to be defined, with possible dates for the first leg between Tuesday, March 4, and Thursday, March 6, and for the return leg between Tuesday, March 11, and Thursday, March 13.
The Peruvian team Alianza Lima advanced by defeating Nacional of Paraguay, which gives them the right to face Boca Juniors in the playoff. The winner of this matchup will have the opportunity to compete in Phase 3 and, if they advance, access the group stage of the 2025 Copa Libertadores. The 'curse' surrounding Alianza Lima has prevented any team sharing a group with them from becoming champions in the last 27 years.
'Néstor Gorosito is the current coach of Boca Juniors and is preparing for the team's debut in the 2025 Copa Libertadores. Known as the 'curse', the streak surrounding Alianza Lima has been a determining factor in the continental competition for almost three decades. It is a significant challenge for our team,' commented Gorosito on the upcoming matchup against Alianza Lima.
