Despite training as usual, Cavani left out of Boca squad to face Vélez | OneFootball

Despite having trained normally from Tuesday onwards, Edinson Cavani will be left out of the squad list for the match between Boca and Vélez, which will take place next Sunday at 10:15 PM at the José Amalfitani stadium. Claudio Úbeda and his coaching staff believe that the Uruguayan is much better from his lower back pain, but that he is still not 100% fit to be included in the squad.

Between the discomfort in his right psoas that troubled him during the last months of last year and the lower back pain that prevented him from completing preseason normally or playing a single minute in 2026, Cavani has spent much more time off the field than on it over the past year.

This week it seemed like everything was going to change, as he completed all training sessions alongside his teammates and had no issues during the football practices on Wednesday and Thursday. However, the coach feels he is still not in optimal condition to be included in the squad.

If everything continues as it is, it is very likely that the Matador will return to the list for the match against Platense next Sunday at La Bombonera, corresponding to the fifth round of the Torneo Apertura.

In addition to Cavani, Exequiel Zeballos and Ander Herrera will also not be part of the list due to muscle tears both suffered during Wednesday's double training session. The spots of Chango and the Spaniard will be filled by Leonel Flores and Camilo Rey Domenech, two young players who have already been called up a few times this year and were starters in the 2-2 draw against Belgrano, which was the Reserve team's debut in the Torneo Proyección.

Another player returning is Miguel Merentiel, who has recovered from his left soleus muscle tear and trained without problems during the week. Given Boca's injury crisis in attack, it is very likely that the Beast will start in Liniers, accompanied by Kevin Zenón and Gonzalo Gelini.

To face El Fortín, Úbeda is expected to go with Agustín Marchesín in goal; Juan Barinaga, Lautaro Di Lollo, Ayrton Costa, and Lautaro Blanco in defense; Leandro Paredes, Milton Delgado, and Santiago Ascacíbar in midfield; and the previously mentioned forward line of Gelini, Merentiel, and Zenón.

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