Soria Leads Bolívar Into Thursday's Bolívar Vs Fluminense Clash
Bolívar vs Fluminense arrives Thursday, April 30, with both teams on one point after two matches in the 2026 Copa Libertadores. Bolívar will host at Estadio Hernando Siles in La Paz, where Vladimir Soria takes charge for the first time in the competition after Flávio Robatto resigned.
La Paz altitude and Bolívar form
The match is set for Estadio Hernando Siles, 3,367 metres above sea level, and Bolívar's record there gives them a clear edge to defend. They have won 90 of 135 matches at the stadium in continental competition and hold a 67 per cent home record across 40 Libertadores appearances.
That home edge is arriving with a new voice on the sideline. Soria made his debut last weekend in a 6-0 win over Real Tomayapo in the Bolivian Championship, and now gets his first Libertadores assignment after Robatto stepped down following the draw with Deportivo La Guaira and the defeat to Independiente Petrolero.
Fluminense arrive on one point
Fluminense also need a response after losing at home to Independiente Rivadavia in their previous Libertadores match. They opened the group with a 0-0 away draw to Deportivo La Guaira, so Thursday's trip to Bolivia is already a pressure point in the race to move out of the early congestion in the group.
José Sagredo gives Bolívar one more option after being cleared by CONMEBOL from the one-match ban tied to his sending-off in the opening fixture. Robson and Patrício Rodríguez have also been working their way back from recent injuries, which leaves Bolívar with some selection questions even with the coaching change settled for now.
Robatto's exit and Soria's start
Robatto's exit closes a long spell in charge. He had led Bolívar since 2024 and won 73 of his 117 matches, but the results in the opening two rounds left the club with the same one-point position as Fluminense and little margin for another slip at home.
Fluminense have tried to limit the altitude effect by traveling to Bolivia as close as possible to kick-off. The return for both sides is straightforward: one point leaves little room for error, and Thursday's result will shape which club leaves La Paz with a workable position in the group.
