This week the semifinals of CONMEBOL’s tournament are decided, featuring the Vasco Da Gama‑Boca Juniors rematch, in the 2026 Copa Sudamericana.
The clash starts at 21:30 (Argentina time) in the Maracanã—São Januário is unusable due to insufficient capacity—and will be broadcast live on DSports and Fox Sports, streams you can catch on Flow, DGO and Telecentro Play; plus it’s also on Disney+ Premium. Real‑time commentary and stats are available on canchallena.com.
Betting odds favor the home side, listed at 2.66 to win, while a 2.82 price backs a visitor victory. A draw, which would send the hosts to the final, pays out up to 3.30.
Vasco Da Gama vs. Boca: everything you need to know
Boca entered the first leg without Leandro Paredes, sidelined by a Grade‑2 hamstring tear on Oct 9 against Instituto. He miraculously recovered and, defying expectations, trained in Rio on Monday, making him available for the return. The question now is whether he starts or if Rodrigo Battaglia, who completed a full 90 minutes in the win over Talleres, takes the nod.
Coach Rodolfo Arruabarrena has also brought back Alan Velasco and Sebastián Villa, the latter nursing a knock from the first leg. Both vie for the spot left by Carlos Palacios, and their selection will shape the tactical setup. Meanwhile, Miguel Merentiel looks set to replace Enner Valencia and partner with Leonel Flores. In my view, Arruabarrena’s rotating options could be the edge Boca needs.
Boca’s continental journey began in the Libertadores, but a third‑place finish dropped them into the Sudamericana. There they edged O’Higgins 4‑3 on penalties after a 1‑1 aggregate (winning both legs 1‑0 at home), then dismantled Paraguay’s Recoleta 7‑1 (3‑1 and 4‑0). In the quarters they beat São Paulo 2‑1, securing a 1‑0 home win and a 1‑1 draw at the Bombonera.
Vasco da Gama enters the tie carrying the advantage earned in Argentina. The Brazilian side suffered a 1‑0 loss to São Paulo in the Brasileirão this weekend, slipping to 15th place and hovering just three points above the relegation zone.
The squad features Argentine imports Alan Lescano, Santiago Sosa, Facundo Colidio and Claudio Spinelli, all recent arrivals. However, Colidio is ineligible after appearing for River in the competition, while Spinelli missed the first leg with injury but is fit for the return.
The ‘Giant of the Hill’ has competed in the Sudamericana from the start, finishing second in Group G with 10 points (three wins, one draw, two losses). In the round of 16 they eliminated Independiente Medellín 3‑2 (2‑2 away, 1‑0 home); the round of 32 saw a 4‑1 home triumph; and in the quarters they dispatched Independiente Santa Fe 2‑0 after a goalless first leg.
In the first‑leg, Vasco da Gama earned its maiden victory over Boca. The clubs have met four times before, splitting two wins for the Xeneizes and two draws. Their inaugural clash came in the 2001 Libertadores quarter‑finals, where Boca won 3‑0 at home and 1‑0 away en route to the title. That same year they drew 2‑2 in both legs of the early Copa Mercosur.
The other Sudamericana semifinal pits Brazil’s Atlético Mineiro against Uruguay’s Montevideo City Torque. In the first leg the Brazilian side triumphed 3‑0, setting up a decisive showdown on Saturday, 21 November at the Estadio Metropolitano Roberto Meléndez in Barranquilla, Colombia.