Bolívar took advantage of home turf and gained an edge against Gremio in the Sudamericana playoffs

Bolívar seized a crucial home advantage in their Copa Sudamericana playoff tie against Gremio, securing a 3-2 victory in the first leg at the "Hernando Siles" stadium in La Paz. The Bolivian side capitalized on their home turf to take a lead in the crucial knockout stage match.

The game saw an intense first half, with Bolívar twice taking the lead. Martín Cauteruccio opened the scoring in the second minute, and Robson Matheus extended their advantage in the 18th. However, Gremio demonstrated resilience, with Villasanti netting an equalizer in the 16th minute and Tete leveling the score again in the 23rd minute after Bolívar had regained the lead.

The decisive moment came in the second half when Dairon Asprilla found the back of the net, sealing the 3-2 win for Bolívar. This result gives them a narrow but significant lead heading into the second leg. The return match is scheduled for next week in Porto Alegre, where Bolívar will aim to defend their advantage against Gremio. The victor of this encounter will proceed to the round of 16, where they are set to face Sao Paulo.