Boca player ratings in Copa Libertadores defeat to Barcelona | OneFootball

Boca suffered its second straight defeat in the Copa Libertadores. After the loss in Brazil, Claudio Úbeda’s team traveled to Guayaquil hoping to move to within one step of qualification for the next round, but Barcelona surprised everyone by taking a 1-0 win, with a goal from Héctor Villalba.

Despite Santiago Ascacibar’s red card, the Xeneize created a good number of dangerous chances. They could have gone into halftime with the lead, but the forwards’ lack of precision proved costly. In two weeks, they will host Cruzeiro at La Bombonera. Boca’s player ratings in the defeat against Barcelona in the Copa Libertadores.

Boca’s disappointment after the 1-0 loss to Barcelona SC.

Leandro Brey (5)

He lasted less than half an hour on the pitch before having to be replaced due to injury. He made a good intervention by cutting out a through ball, but since the field was not in good condition, he collided very hard with Byron Castillo and came off worse. He left the field crying and on a stretcher in the 24th minute, making way for Javi García.

Marcelo Weigandt (4)

The right back remains one of Boca’s weakest points. Despite the poor field conditions, he had no influence in attack and was mixed in defense, alternating good and bad moments. Near the end of the match, with the whole team pushing for an equalizer, he wasted a dangerous move with an overhit cross.

Lautaro Di Lollo (6)

He grew into the game. The poor state of the pitch made it hard for him to find his rhythm, but as the minutes passed he settled in and became a pillar of the defense. He won several aerial duels and, with Boca trailing, pushed forward in search of the equalizer.

Ayrton Costa (5)

At the start of the match, he tried to poke home a loose ball in the box, but Barcelona’s goalkeeper denied him the celebration. He had a difficult first half in which he had to deal with Darío Benedetto, but after Benedetto went off, he settled in and improved. He made a great headed clearance in the closing moments of the match.

Lautaro Blanco (6)

Unlike previous matches, he was unable to get forward in attack. At first, it was to avoid leaving the left flank exposed after Ascacibar’s red card. Only in the final minutes, with the team behind, was he able to cross midfield, but his crosses did not find their target.

Santiago Ascacibar (3)

Up until the sending-off, he had been showing the energy that has defined him since arriving at Boca. He saw red for an absurd kick to Céliz’s head while trying to challenge for the ball. He put the team in a difficult position. It was the fifth red card of his career.

Leandro Paredes (6)

Although he did not shine as he has accustomed us to since returning to Boca, he still found ways to send his teammates through one-on-one with the opposing goalkeeper with a single pass. He showed his class, although at times he was caught out during the Ecuadorian side’s attacks. He took an elbow near the end of the first half that led to Milton Céliz being sent off.

Milton Delgado (6)

He continues to be Paredes’ safety valve in midfield. Without having a brilliant game, he was the firefighter who put out the blaze caused by Ascacibar’s red card. He misplayed the ball at the start of the move that led to Barcelona’s goal, which turned into a deadly counterattack.

Tomás Aranda (6)

One of the standout performers of the night. Although he did not have a notable first half and at times even looked lost, he turned it all around in the second half. After the break, he produced moments of magic with his passing. Especially when, with a half-turn, he put Merentiel through one-on-one with the goalkeeper.

Miguel Merentiel (5)

He has been underperforming for several matches now. Despite generating a large number of chances, he has been far too wasteful in front of the opposing goal. Tonight, he missed three chances that could have given Boca the win. The clearest was the one-on-one, after Aranda’s pass, where the goalkeeper denied him and he could not finish properly.

Milton Giménez (5)

With Bareiro unavailable — sent off against Cruzeiro — he started as the center forward alongside Merentiel. He won and lost a large number of duels. He shielded the ball well and at times dropped deep to win it back.

Javier García (6)

He came on for Brey in the 25th minute. Aside from a long-range shot, he did not have much to do until 15 minutes into the second half. At that point, Barcelona launched a deadly counterattack to make it 1-0. He was not at fault for the goal. Late on, there was another counter from the Ecuadorians, but he shut the door on goal.

Exequiel Zeballos (4)

He came on in the 60th minute for Aranda. He was able to do little against a team that dropped deep to protect the result. His only notable action came with his first involvement, when he attacked the space and picked out Giménez, who narrowly failed to reach the ball.

Alan Velasco (4)

He came on at the same time as Changuito in place of Merentiel. Starting on the right, he drifted more centrally as the minutes passed in an attempt to combine with Zeballos. He did not create any danger.

Ángel Romero (-)

Not enough time to be rated.

Claudio Úbeda (5)

He repeated the same starting eleven that had been getting results over the last several matches, with the forced change of Giménez for Bareiro, who was sent off in Brazil in the previous round. After Ascacibar’s red card, he did not turn to the bench until the 60th minute. His substitutions had no impact on the result.

Boca’s coach, not approved.

Keep reading:

After Boca’s defeat in Ecuador, when do they play again: opponent, day and time

Claudio Úbeda: from frustration over the defeat in Ecuador to optimism about deciding it at La Bombonera

Boca lost in Ecuador: how the Libertadores Group D standings look

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