Boca's player ratings from the Libertadores defeat to Cruzeiro in Brazil | OneFootball

It seems that Boca used up all its ammunition in the Superclásico. They lost by the narrowest of margins to Cruzeiro, thanks to a goal from Néiser Villarreal. Adam Bareiro was sent off near the end of the first half, so they had to play the entire second half with 10 men against a Brazilian side that grew in confidence.

Despite showing good intentions in the first half, the team did not register a shot on target over the 90 minutes and spent too much time fighting, arguing, and talking. Tempers were running high from the very beginning, and things fully boiled over at the final whistle, when a melee broke out between the Xeneize players and their opponents. Below are the player ratings from Boca’s defeat in Brazil.

Boca fell 1-0 to Cruzeiro. Source: CONMEBOL.

Leandro Brey (7)

Boca’s standout player. Cruzeiro barely tested him, but when they did, he responded well and looked solid between the posts. He dealt with the floated crosses into the box. He also made a great save from Kaio Jorge’s shot inside the six-yard box. There was little he could do about Cruzeiro’s goal. His run of 435 minutes without conceding came to an end.

Marcelo Weigandt (3)

The Xeneize full-back remains the biggest headache for Úbeda and all the fans. Despite beating out Barinaga for the starting spot, he struggled badly in Brazil. Underwhelming and with little intent to get forward. He left a lot to be desired.

Lautaro Di Lollo (5)

He started out strong defensively, winning several duels, but gradually lost ground. On Cruzeiro’s goal, Néiser Villarreal slipped between him and Figal to make it 1-0. With Boca trailing, he pushed forward for aerial balls, though without much impact.

Ayrton Costa (4)

He made a good early interception to launch a team attack. With tensions high, he got caught up in the atmosphere and spent more time fighting and squaring up to opponents than defending. Kaio Jorge got in behind him twice: Brey saved one, and the other ended in the Belo Horizonte side’s goal. He could have been sent off for a second yellow, but escaped.

Lautaro Blanco (6)

One of the best in defense. He looked solid throughout, with no real scares. He cut out several Brazilian attacks with great timing. Going forward, he was once again essential in getting to the byline. In the first half, he whipped in a dangerous right-footed cross that Bareiro almost connected with.

Santiago Ascacíbar (5)

He ran more than he played. Positioned to the right of Paredes, he looked for connections that never came and, compared to previous matches, had little influence going forward, although he did get into the opposing box. In the second half, he produced an excellent switch of play right onto Changuito Zeballos’ foot.

Leandro Paredes (5)

His weakest match since returning to Boca. He had always earned solid marks and often been the best player on the pitch, but this time he looked hampered by an early booking before the 10-minute mark, one that could have been avoided. He talked a lot with the referee. In the second half, he could have picked up a second yellow for a foul on Gerson. He got away with it. After Cruzeiro made it 1-0, he took charge of the ball and tried some individual plays to thread passes through, but without success.

Milton Delgado (6)

Along with Aranda, one of the best in midfield. Very active and becoming the team’s firefighter when things got tense. He covered every empty space he found on the pitch, especially after Boca went down to 10 men.

Tomás Aranda (6)

A very good first half. Active, direct, and eager to get on the ball to lead the team. With his dribbling, he drew a yellow card for Gerson after taking a hard foul. He was substituted a few minutes into the second half.

Miguel Merentiel (4)

He was far removed from the dangerous plays. He moved across the entire front line, but had very little influence in attack. He had just one approach at the opposing goal, when he tried to send in a cross, mishit it, and it ended up as a goal kick.

Adam Bareiro (2)

His habit of constantly going into physical battles with center-backs was always going to have consequences one day, and that day came today. He was sent off for two yellow cards, both stemming from his individual duel with Gerson, with whom he was in constant contact. The second yellow seems a bit harsh compared to subsequent fouls, but he left the team a man down just before halftime.

Exequiel Zeballos (6)

He made a positive impact in the half hour he was on the pitch. It was difficult for him as the lone attacking reference point, but he had a few flashes that troubled Cruzeiro’s defense. Operating from the left, he made a long run and his cross was cleared by the goalkeeper.

Nicolás Figal (4)

With his introduction, Boca switched to a back five. He had little involvement, but the one time he was really tested, he ended up in the frame on Villarreal’s goal, as the scorer slipped in behind him to poke the ball into the net.

Claudio Úbeda (4)

Whenever the pressure is on and things get heated, he shows his worst version. Although the initial setup seemed positive because the team was not suffering too much, Bareiro’s sending-off led the Boca coach to make the wrong decisions.

El Sifón lost his unbeaten run with Boca. Photo: Pedro Vilela/Getty Images.

He switched to a back five and it did not work, since the goal came from a lapse between the center-backs. Until the introduction of another defender, Cruzeiro had not had a shot on target.

Keep reading

Leandro Paredes’ anger after the defeat to Cruzeiro

After Boca’s defeat to Cruzeiro: what the group standings look like

Before the red card in Brazil: why Adam Bareiro already hated Esteban Ostojich

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