Santiago Ascacibar banned for two games, out v Cruzeiro and U. Católica | OneFootball

The Xeneize midfielder received a two-match suspension for his red card against Barcelona of Ecuador: he will play neither against Cruzeiro nor Universidad Católica.

Boca received bad news ahead of the decisive clash against Cruzeiro at the Bombonera in the Copa Libertadores. Conmebol confirmed the sanction for Santiago Ascacíbar, who must serve a two-match suspension and has been ruled out for the remainder of the group stage.

The midfielder had been sent off in the defeat against Barcelona of Ecuador after a hard foul on Milton Céliz. In the end, the Disciplinary Committee decided to hand him a two-match suspension, meaning he will be unavailable both against Cruzeiro and against Universidad Católica on the final matchday of Group D.

The absence is a major blow for Claudio Úbeda's team, which will face two true finals in its push to qualify for the round of 16 of the Libertadores. The Xeneize sit third with six points, behind Universidad Católica and Cruzeiro, who both lead with seven.

But Boca’s concerns do not end there. Ahead of the meeting with the Brazilian side, three regular starters are one yellow card away from suspension and will need to be careful to avoid another absence for the decisive matchday.

The players at risk are Leandro Paredes, Lautaro Blanco and Ayrton Costa, who have each accumulated two yellow cards in the group stage. If any of them is booked again against Cruzeiro, he will automatically be suspended for the group’s final match.

With almost no margin for error, the Xeneize will not only have to focus on securing a crucial win at the Bombonera, but also manage the disciplinary side so as not to arrive depleted for the final showdown that will determine their future in the Copa Libertadores.

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