Boca’s absentees for the trip to Estudiantes

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La Número 12

·27 January 2026

Boca’s absentees for the trip to Estudiantes

After the first step taken in the Apertura Tournament with the victory against Deportivo Riestra by the minimum, at La Bombonera, Boca is preparing to face the second matchday. They will face Estudiantes de La Plata this Wednesday starting at 22:15 at Estadio UNO. However, while awaiting the arrival of Santiago Ascacibar, Claudio Úbeda will not be able to count on six of his players due to various injuries.

The Xeneize has to deal with a major headache due to the significant absences the team will have against the Pincha. One of the main issues the coaching staff will have to resolve is the formation of the offense, where their three forwards are injured for various reasons, and the only substitute is Lucas Janson. Likewise, the presence of the former Vélez player is not 100% confirmed after he experienced discomfort in his calf.

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In total, five players will miss the clash against the Pincha in La Plata: Miguel Merentiel, Milton Giménez, Carlos Palacios, Alan Velasco, and Rodrigo Battaglia. All with different recovery dates, but they will be forced to miss several matches in the first part of the year.

The Xeneize must make a mandatory change, at the very least.

Miguel Merentiel: was a starter against Olimpia of Paraguay and requested a change after fifteen minutes. After medical checks, it was confirmed that he suffered a tear in his right calf, which will keep him off the field for three weeks. This means he would miss the next four commitments of the club from La Ribera.

Milton Giménez: has been dealing with a pubalgia for several months. Against Racing, in the semifinals of the Clausura Tournament 2025, he played with discomfort, and before the first friendly of this year, the injury was confirmed. Together with Boca's medical team, he is considering the possibility of surgery to speed up recovery times, but depending on the evolution, it could take between 2 to 6 months.

Carlos Palacios: during the preseason at the Ezeiza Complex, he suffered synovitis in his right knee. There is no estimated return date, and together with the club's medical team, they are evaluating his progress day by day.

Rodrigo Battaglia: the 34-year-old midfielder suffers from insertional tendinopathy of the Achilles tendon and will undergo surgery in the coming hours. As it is a surgery similar to a tendon rupture, he will miss the entire first half of the season, and depending on his recovery, the timeline could extend beyond what is estimated.

Alan Velasco: requested a change due to discomfort in the second half against Deportivo Riestra. After medical studies, it was confirmed that he suffered a grade II strain of the medial collateral ligament in his left knee in the clash with Miguel Barbieri. He will be out for about two months, which would sideline him from much of the Apertura Tournament, the debut in the Copa Argentina, and very likely, the start of the Copa Libertadores.

Who could have their opportunity at Boca?

In the offensive zone, there is not much substitution. Lucas Janson was a starter against the Malevo but was substituted due to muscle discomfort, and although an injury was not confirmed, he might be preserved to avoid a bigger headache. Everything points to Iker Zufiaurre having his opportunity as a starter, although the possibility of Edinson Cavani getting some minutes is not ruled out after he rejoined training with the group this Monday.

Boca is preparing to visit the Pincha.

Boca's midfield is covered with Leandro Paredes, Milton Delgado, Ander Herrera, Tomás Belmonte, and Camilo Rey Domenech. Meanwhile, in the playmaking area, Ángel Romero could have his first call-up after his arrival in the country, although he would do so with only one training session with the team.