Racing Club vs Boca Juniors Predictions

Monday’s Superliga Argentina action features a standout clash between close neighbours Racing Club and Boca Juniors. The hosts will be looking to keep up their strong start to the season by seeing off the reigning champions.

Racing looked a powerful force in the second half of last season after Eduardo Coudet came into the dugout and now in his first full season in charge, he looks set to have La Academia challenging for the title. With some extremely talented players in their ranks, Racing were always likely to be there or thereabouts come the end of the season and in the action we’ve seen so far, they’ve looked by far and away the division’s strongest side.

7 games in and Racing have dropped just two points, and that came on opening day, meaning they’ve now won an impressive 6 Superliga matches in a row. Even more impressive has been their efficiency at both ends of the pitch, having not conceded a single goal during their current winning streak, whilst scoring an average of 1.83 goals per match; statistics that has confidence flowing all over the pitch coming into Monday’s game.

Meanwhile, Boca’s start to the season has been far less convincing and the visitors will have to improve if they are to lift the domestic crown for the third consecutive year. El Xeneize made it into the semi-finals of the Copa Libertadores in midweek but in poor domestic shape, boss Guillermo Barros Schelotto remains under pressure.

Currently 5th and already 6 points behind Racing, Boca’s opening showings have been below par and with the league’s strongest squad on paper, Schelotto really should be getting more from his players. In recent weeks, Boca have been completely outplayed on their own patch by arch rivals River Plate in a 2-0 defeat, as well as going out of the cup to a poor Gimnasia de la Plata outfit and whilst a win over Colon last time out in league action and advancement in continental affairs will have lifted spirits in visiting ranks, those that take to the pitch can be under no illusions as regards the task at hand.

Ultimately, Racing look irresistible in their current shape and you’d back them against just about anyone, particularly with their partisan home crowd behind them. Going back to the end of last season, Racing have won 9 of their last 11 matches at the Cilindro and currently winning with impressive regularity no matter the venue, they’ll fancy their chances of picking up all 3 points.

At current prices, we’re more than happy to back them doing exactly that and feel getting behind a home win provides excellent value. Tired from their trip to Brazil and vulnerable to opponents that play at the intensity Racing do, it’s hard to see Boca avoiding defeat and we fancy the hosts to run out 2-0 winners.