La Número 12
·13 May 2026
Boca's forced change vs Cruzeiro: 3 options to replace Ascacibar

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Yahoo sportsLa Número 12
·13 May 2026

Boca is getting ready to host Cruzeiro in a key Group D match of the Copa Libertadores. The Xeneize must win and also make a change in the starting lineup because Santiago Ascacibar is suspended, and the coach has 3 alternatives for the position.
After their early elimination from the Torneo Apertura against Huracán, the team shifted gears and focused on the only important goal left this semester: qualifying for the round of 16 of the continental competition.
But before this match against the Brazilians, the team’s head coach, Claudio Úbeda, will have to sort out several issues. Among them is who will replace the suspended Santiago Ascacibar. It should be remembered that the midfielder was shown a straight red card in the match against Barcelona of Ecuador.

Herrera, Belmonte and Zeballos.
The leading candidate for El Sifón is Ander Herrera, but he is not the only one with a chance to take the Ruso’s spot. Tomás Belmonte is also emerging as a real possibility to partner Leandro Paredes and Milton Delgado in midfield.
Another option the coach has is Exequiel Zeballos. The Changuito also appears as a concrete alternative to fill the vacant spot, although in this case the forward would play a few meters further up the field, forcing a tactical change.
In addition to the absence of the former Estudiantes player, Adam Bareiro will also be unavailable for the team from La Ribera. The Paraguayan center forward suffered a muscle injury involving the adductor complex and left rectus abdominis, and he will miss this match.

Bareiro will miss the match due to injury.
With this injury, the Xeneize manager will also have to decide who will take his place on the field. Milton Giménez appears to be the most viable option, although Edinson Cavani is pushing to be included in the squad and earn a spot, now recovered from his back injury.
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.
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