The Strongest vs Bolivar on 31 January
The Strongest and Bolivar, two of Bolivia’s top football clubs, are set to face off in an exciting friendly match on January 31. While the stakes in this friendly encounter might not be as high as those in competitive tournaments, both teams will be looking to fine-tune their strategies and build momentum ahead of the new season. This is more than just a practice session — it's an opportunity to test systems, integrate new players, and show their fans what they’re capable of. Played at The Strongest's home ground, Estadio Hernando Siles in La Paz, this clash is sure to provide tactical intrigue and thrilling moments. The weather is expected to be clear, with moderate temperatures, which should make for an exciting match without too much disruption from the elements.
The Strongest: Tactical Approach and Current Form
In their recent form, The Strongest have shown solid consistency, going unbeaten in their last five games with a mix of victories and draws. Their style of play is built around high pressing, aiming to disrupt the opposition's build-up play and quickly regain possession in dangerous areas. Their attacking approach is focused on quick transitions and exploiting the flanks, with wingers playing a key role in creating width and stretching the opposition defense. In the final third, they rely on fast, direct passing to break through lines, often looking for runs behind the defense.
Statistically, The Strongest have maintained a strong presence in terms of possession in the final third (averaging around 60%), which highlights their attacking intent. Their pressing game is also one of their strongest assets, with an average of 16 pressing actions per game. Key players like playmaker Diego Wayar will be crucial for pulling the strings in midfield, while the attacking duo of Jorge Flores and Henry Vaca will be the main threats in the final third. However, a key concern is the fitness of their central defender, Christian Vargas, who is recovering from a slight injury. If he’s not fit to play, The Strongest may struggle to maintain defensive solidity against the potent Bolivar attack.
Bolivar: Tactical Approach and Current Form
Bolivar, as always, are one of the strongest teams in Bolivian football. Their tactical setup under coach Beñat San José is based on possession football, focusing on controlling the midfield and dictating the tempo of the game. Bolivar typically deploys a 4-3-3 formation, looking to dominate possession and create overloads in wide areas. They tend to play a short-passing game, with quick combination play between the midfielders and forwards, gradually breaking down opposition defenses.
Recent form has been excellent, with Bolivar securing four wins in their last five matches. They have an impressive xG (expected goals) ratio, averaging 2.2 xG per game, which speaks to their clinical finishing and ability to carve out high-quality chances. The key players for Bolivar are veteran midfielder Leonel Justiniano, who dictates the rhythm of their play, and striker Luciano Ursino, whose pace and finishing ability make him a constant threat. Bolivar’s defense is solid but not impenetrable, with their full-backs often caught upfield, leaving space for counter-attacks. The team will need to be cautious of The Strongest’s ability to exploit those spaces.
Head-to-Head: History and Psychology
The historical rivalry between The Strongest and Bolivar is one of Bolivia’s most fiercely contested. In their last five encounters, Bolivar have had the upper hand, winning three of the matches, while The Strongest managed just one win. However, these matches have typically been tight, with each team possessing the attacking prowess to make the other sweat. The last time they met in a competitive fixture, it was Bolivar who edged out a 2-1 win, although The Strongest pushed them all the way, creating several clear-cut chances.
Despite the friendly nature of this match, the psychological edge still lies with Bolivar, who will be eager to continue their dominance in this fixture. The Strongest will need to make sure they can match Bolivar’s technical quality and prevent them from dictating the pace of the game. The recent head-to-head record will certainly be a factor, but both teams know that this friendly offers an opportunity to test new strategies, so don’t be surprised if it’s a more open contest than the traditional cagey encounters.
Key Battles and Critical Zones
The key battle in this match will likely take place in the midfield. Leonel Justiniano of Bolivar will be tasked with controlling the game and linking up with the forwards, while The Strongest will look to disrupt his rhythm with aggressive pressing from midfield. How well The Strongest manage to close down Justiniano will be crucial in limiting Bolivar’s creativity.
Another critical zone will be the flanks. The Strongest’s wingers, especially Flores and Vaca, will look to exploit the space left by Bolivar’s overlapping full-backs. Bolivar’s defense will need to be cautious, as any gaps left by the full-backs could be exploited by the pace and dribbling ability of The Strongest’s wide players. This will be particularly important given The Strongest’s ability to transition quickly from defense to attack.
Match Scenario and Prediction
With both teams coming into this match with a clear intent to showcase their tactical setups ahead of the season, we can expect a high-tempo encounter, likely with end-to-end action. Bolivar’s dominance in possession and their ability to create high-quality chances will likely see them control the game for large periods. However, The Strongest will look to hit them on the counter-attack and exploit the spaces left by their full-backs.
The key to Bolivar’s success will be maintaining their defensive shape while trying to break down The Strongest’s high press. The Strongest will need to be aggressive in the press, force mistakes, and transition quickly to catch Bolivar off guard. In terms of a prediction, a narrow victory for Bolivar seems most likely, but don’t count out The Strongest pushing them to the limit. The match could end with Bolivar winning 2-1 or 3-2, with both teams scoring.
Final Thoughts
Both The Strongest and Bolivar have plenty to prove in this friendly, and it’s set to be an exciting clash between two of Bolivia’s most successful football clubs. While Bolivar may have the upper hand historically, The Strongest are more than capable of pulling off an upset with their dynamic attacking play. The match will be decided by which team can control the key battles in midfield and exploit the spaces left by the opposition's defensive structure. Will Bolivar continue their dominance, or will The Strongest show their ability to rise to the occasion?
