Boca assess defence after Unión draw, may change for Instituto | OneFootball

Claudio Úbeda’s coaching staff appreciated the team’s performance, but raised alarms about the recurring defensive errors in recent matches.

Behind closed doors, they acknowledge that the team showed periods of better collective play and a greater intent to play, in line with what was seen in previous games. However, the defense once again came under scrutiny, a sector that still fails to convince. There are recurring imbalances that allow opponents to create chances easily. This fragility was exposed not only against Unión, but also in recent matches.

(Photo by Luciano Bisbal/Getty Images)

The right back, the position of greatest concern

Marcelo Weigandt has been starting in recent games, but with a very inconsistent performance that always leaves his spot in doubt, and the match against “Gloria” will be no exception. Against San Lorenzo, he was partly responsible for the goal, as the play started on his side, and at the “15 de Abril” stadium he had to mark Mateo Del Blanco and Julián Palacios, who did not make his night easy.

Juan Barinaga appears as an alternative. The former Belgrano de Córdoba player has recovered from an injury and could once again be considered by the coaching staff.

The center backs also under review

The doubts are not limited to the right back. The central defensive duo of Lautaro Di Lollo and Ayrton Costa has also come under evaluation. Both finished 2025 with consistent playing time and good form, but have recently shown very inconsistent performances. There is a lack of coordination and decisions that have exposed the team on several occasions.

For now, Úbeda is keeping the duo, although he does not rule out changes, as he considers giving a chance to the young Pellegrino, who is hot on Costa’s heels. In this scenario, Nicolás Figal and Marco Pellegrino appear as options, both of whom have performed well when called upon.

(Photo by Luciano Bisbal/Getty Images)

Blanco, the only undisputed position

Within this defensive analysis, there is a clear exception: Lautaro Blanco is one of the most reliable at the back and his place at left back is not up for debate. He performs well, is solid, and pushes forward when he has space—he is the best of the worst that Úbeda has.

While the team tries to consolidate an improvement in collective play, at Boca they understand that the next step is to organize the defense.

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