How Úbeda’s gambles paid off in Boca’s first match of the year | OneFootball

Boca had its first formal test of the year in the 0-0 draw against Millonarios, and Claudio Úbeda took the opportunity to give his new tactical scheme some playing time. He also gave Ánder Herrera minutes from the start and bet on Brian Aguirre as a winger, while awaiting the arrival of Marino Hinestroza. The conclusions? Overall, positive despite the lack of goals.

With ongoing concerns about Edinson Cavani’s physical condition and with Milton Giménez also injured and under scrutiny from the fans, the double striker formation seems to be over for now. Sifón opted for a 4-3-3 with plenty of possession, based on the versatility and passing quality of his three midfielders.

This was precisely where the big leap in quality compared to 2025 lay: Milton Delgado, Leandro Paredes, and Herrera gave the team ball control and a clear ability to play out from the back, something that hadn’t quite clicked last year. The Spaniard’s 45 minutes were among the best of the night at La Bombonera and left all Boca fans excited.

It lasted for a half, but the change in formation and the presence of the Basque were among the positives from a night that ended on a high note, despite not being able to break the 0-0 deadlock. However, leading a three-man attack was not the most comfortable position for Miguel Merentiel, who nonetheless had some goal-scoring chances and put in a decent performance.

The flip side of Herrera was Brian Aguirre. After a week of speculation that the spot would go to Kevin Zenón, Úbeda chose the former Newell’s player on the right, and the winger came up short. With good starts but poor decisions, his performance reflected his 2025: from better to worse. Still, that spot is intended for Marino Hinestroza, who could join the squad in the coming days.

Another factor to consider is that, in addition to Cavani and Giménez, Carlos Palacios and Rodrigo Battaglia are also in the infirmary. The Chilean finished the year as a starter, and in the formation tested last night, it’s hard to predict what role he might play. That’s why the draw against Millonarios was just one of Úbeda’s tests, and he’ll have a second chance to experiment this Sunday, against Olimpia of Paraguay.

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