Boca kick off 2026 with a heartfelt tribute to Russo against Millonarios | OneFootball

Boca Juniors will open their 2026 season this Wednesday, a year in which the Copa Libertadores is the main goal, by hosting Millonarios from Colombia in an emotional friendly match, as it will serve to honor the remembered and deceased former head coach of both clubs, Miguel Ángel Russo.

The match will take place starting at 19:00 hours at the Alberto J. Armando Stadium, popularly known as “La Bombonera,” and will be broadcast by the Disney+ platform.

The Team and Confirmed Absences

For this first commitment of the year, the "Xeneize" team will be without three key players: defender Rodrigo Battaglia (Achilles tendonitis), Chilean offensive midfielder Carlos Palacios (knee injury), and Uruguayan forward Edinson Cavani (back problem).

Despite these absences, head coach Claudio Úbeda, who led the team to the semifinals of the 2025 Professional Football League Clausura Tournament, is expected to have the starting eleven ready to take the field.

The initial lineup is likely to include Agustín Marchesín in goal; a defensive line composed of Juan Barinaga, Lautaro Di Lollo, Ayrton Cosa, and Lautaro Blanco; in midfield, Leandro Paredes, Milton Delgado, and Spaniard Ander Herrera; and the forward line will consist of Kevin Zenón, Uruguayan Miguel Merentiel, and Exequiel “Changuito” Zeballos, who ended 2025 at a superb level.

Tribute to a Great

During the day, the focus will be on the tribute to Miguel Ángel Russo, a historic figure for both institutions, with whom he achieved significant championships. At Boca, “Miguelo” lifted the Copa Libertadores in 2007, the 2020 Superliga, and the Copa de la Liga in the same year. With Millonarios, he was crowned in the 2017 Torneo Finalización and the 2018 Superliga.

Transfer Market News

Alongside the start of the competition, Boca continues to be active in the transfer market. The “Xeneize” has been negotiating for several weeks with Atlético Nacional of Colombia for the acquisition of Colombian winger Marino Hinestroza, who will finally join the club from La Ribera after a deal close to five million dollars.

With this signing almost finalized, the management led by Juan Román Riquelme aims to secure two new additions. The targeted players are central defender Gastón Hernández and forward Alexis Cuello, both from San Lorenzo.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.