Tonight’s Copa Libertadores 2025 action sees the crucial game between São Paulo and The Strongest with the Bolivian side having to win to qualify.

Although there have been no reports São Paulo manager Edgardo Bauza has made his players take Viagra as the River Plate players did when visiting The Strongest in Copa Libertadores, him and his players will be more than aware of the difficulty at playing at such extreme altitude.

The last team to beat the Strongest at home was a Brazilian team when a Ronaldinho inspired Atletico Mineiro recorded a  2-1 victory in 2013 on their way to becoming Copa Libertadores champions. Prior to that you would have to go as far back as 2006 to find a team that has won in the Bolivian capital.  Of course São Paulo travel to La Paz not needing to win however this record does emphasise the nature of the task. Furthermore as this record has been maintained over such a long period with completely different players, it also suggests just how much of a factor the altitude is when playing against The Strongest. São Paulo enter the game on a poor run of domestic results but more importantly they will feel on the back of a superb performance against River Plate in which they won 2-1 and pressed River high up the field from the first minute. Owing to the altitude, this game will be nowhere near as frantic as the game against River and the experienced players of Bauza’s team will be crucial in managing the game and the conditions.

Best performance of The Strongest in this year Copa Libertadores was in São Paulo

The Strongest’s best performance in recent history was in the first game in São Paulo when they were organised both defensively as well as on the counter attack and were rewarded by a goal from Matias Alonso through the best worked corner your likely to see this year. The Brazilians will take encouragement both from their own performance against River but also River’s performance away in La Paz in which they should have won the game comfortably based on the chances created.

The other game in the group should be a routine victory for the already qualified River Plate against the already knocked out Trujillanos.