Lautaro Di Lollo, another blow for Boca v Racing: Arruabarrena's XI | OneFootball

Boca picked up a new problem in the lead-up to Sunday’s clásico against Racing. Lautaro Di Lollo is dealing with inflammation in the pubic area and, barring an unexpected recovery, will not be available to Rodolfo Arruabarrena in Avellaneda. In fact, the 21-year-old center back may not even be included in the matchday squad.

The absence forces El Vasco to once again change his defensive plans. Di Lollo had been one of the key alternatives in a back line where the coach has rotated names throughout the start of his second stint. However, the issue will keep him out of a match of the highest demand.

Figal and Costa, Boca’s center-back pairing once again

With this outlook, everything points to Arruabarrena once again turning to Nicolás Figal and Ayrton Costa as his central defensive pairing. Both started on Tuesday in Paraguay, in the 4-0 win over Recoleta that secured Boca’s place in the Copa Sudamericana quarterfinals, and now they look very likely to keep their spots against La Academia.

For Figal, it also represents a new chance to keep building minutes and continuity, while Costa remains one of the coach’s most reliable options for the role.

In addition to Di Lollo, the other player who will not be in the squad is Malcom Braida. Why? The left back took a heavy knock and therefore will not be available this Sunday for the clásico against Racing.

The fifth absence for El Vasco

Di Lollo’s issue adds to an injury list that already included three other important names. Leandro Paredes, Leandro Lozano and Marco Pellegrino were also unavailable for the second leg against Recoleta and, for now, will remain out against Racing.

Paredes is still dealing with the muscle injury he suffered against Platense, and his absence forces El Vasco to reshuffle the midfield in particular. Pellegrino, meanwhile, also will not be able to step in as an alternative to cover for Di Lollo’s absence, while Lozano will continue to leave a vacancy at right back.

So, Arruabarrena will head into the clásico with four absences and will once again have to make changes to a team that is coming off a convincing qualification in Paraguay.

At least the defense seems fairly clear: without Di Lollo and Pellegrino, Figal and Costa are once again shaping up to occupy the middle of the back line. A pairing that delivered against Recoleta and that will now face a very different test: Racing, in Avellaneda, in a clásico Boca will look to win in order to keep growing in the Clausura as well.

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