River Plate vs Blooming probable lineups, H2H and prediction — May 28, 2026
In the final match of the Copa Sudamericana group stage, River Plate and Blooming will face off. The game will take place in Buenos Aires on the night of Thursday, May 28, with kickoff at 02:30 Central European Time. I'm backing a bet on this match's goal tally.
River Plate — undisputed group favorite
River Plate go into the final round as group leaders and one of the most consistent sides of the tournament. The Argentinians have been dominant throughout the group stage, displaying solid ball control and a high tempo. In recent games, they beat Rosario Central (1-0) and Gimnasia La Plata (2-0), and drew with Bragantino (1-1), further underlining their consistency over the distance.
Before that, they also put together a strong run: a win over Carabobo (2-1) and strong performances in home matches, where River traditionally look supremely confident. Their only recent defeat — a 2-3 loss to Belgrano — seems more like an exception against the backdrop of their overall dominance.
River Plate are especially formidable at home, where they typically dictate the tempo and hardly allow their opponents to create any chances. The home factor in Buenos Aires is once again a key advantage in the international arena, where the roar of the stands plays a crucial role.
Heading into the final round, motivation remains high — not only do they want to confirm their group leadership, but also to approach the playoffs in peak form. A draw is enough for the Argentinians to secure first place in their group.
Blooming fighting for pride
Blooming are enduring a tough group stage, sitting bottom of the table. The team has collected just one point from five matches and are struggling both in attack and defense.
In recent outings, the Bolivian club lost to Bragantino (0-6), Carabobo (0-2) and Independiente Petrolero (1-3), and managed a goalless draw with Bolivar. Their only positive result in the Copa Sudamericana — a 1-1 draw with River Plate in the opening round — remains their best achievement in the tournament so far.
Blooming have been wasteful in attack and defensively prone to errors under pressure from stronger opponents. The team is often forced to play second-fiddle and struggles to keep up with the pace of more skillful sides.
Despite their struggles, the clash with River Plate is a chance to play without the pressure of results and to make a mark in one of the group’s toughest away games. For the Bolivian side, it’s also an opportunity to save face on the international stage and finish the group on a more positive note.
Probable lineups
- River Plate: Armani, Jimenez, Pezzella, Diaz, Gonzalez, Castano, Galoppo, Quintero, Mesa, Lensina, Salas.
- Blooming: Uraezana, Enoumba, Carrasco, Vila, Cabral, Galvez, Oliveros, Hinojosa, Kentella, Chura, Vasquez.
Interesting facts and H2H
- River Plate have failed to win at home in two consecutive matches.
- The Argentinians have suffered just one defeat in their last six outings.
- Blooming are winless in seven straight matches.
- The Bolivians have lost four of their last five away games.
- The first-round encounter between these sides ended in a 1-1 draw.
Prediction
The gulf in class is obvious. River Plate are at home and in great shape, while Blooming are struggling with organization and results. I doubt the visitors can put up much of a fight, and my pick is for the overall total to exceed 3 goals.
