COPA LIBERTADORES: ADVANTAGE SANTOS OVER BOCA

Carlos Tevez and his Boca Juniors teammates have it all to do if they want to qualify for the final of the 2020Copa Libertadoresafter they failed to beat Brazilian club Santos at home in the first leg of their semi-final tie at the La Bombonerain Buenos Aires, the Argentinian capital. Carlos Tevez played the entire duration of the game but he could not fire Boca Juniors past Santos as the two teams settled for a goalless draw. The result meant that Brazilian Serie A giants Santos are clear favourites to seal a place in the final at the expense of Carlos Tevez and his Boca Juniors teammates ahead of the second leg billed for the EstadioUrbanoCaldeirain Santos next week Wednesday.


Boca Juniors saw off fellow Argentine club Racing in the quarterfinals to get to this stage. Carlos Tevez and his teammates had to do it the hard way after losing the first leg 1-0. Boca Juniors were able to win the second leg 2-0 at home to seal a 2-1 aggregate win over their opponents.
On their part, Santos saw off another Brazilian team Gremio in the quarterfinals to book their place in the last four of the competition. Hosts Gremio and Santos shared a 1-1 draw in the first leg before Santos beat Gremio 4-1 in the second leg to seal a 5-2 aggregate win.

Santos could still lose the final spot to Boca Juniors irrespective of what happens in the second leg on Wednesday after the Brazilian club fielded a player that had tested positive for Covid-19. Santos goalkeeper John tested positive to the virus according to Spanish newspaper Marca and was allowed to play the first leg in Argentina. A second player Wagner Leonardo also tested positive for Covid-19 but he was on the bench for the game. Santos could be thrown out of the Copa Libertadores due to their negligence in fielding John in goal during the game on Wednesday.