Not Giménez: Boca tested Bareiro's replacement | OneFootball

Boca is getting ready for a cup “final,” and its coach, Claudio Úbeda, has already tested the team as they go in search of the three points. This Saturday, at the Ezeiza training ground, the squad completed another training session with all eyes on the crucial clash against Cruzeiro, corresponding to the fifth matchday of the Copa Libertadores group stage.

The Xeneize come into the match needing a win to keep their hopes of reaching the round of 16 alive. However, the coaching staff had to overcome several obstacles to put together the starting eleven, with the attack being the area that caused the biggest headaches.

One of the big questions of the day was who would take the place of Adam Bareiro, ruled out of this match with a muscle injury affecting the adductor complex and the rectus abdominis on the left side.

When everything pointed to Milton Giménez as the natural replacement, the morning session brought a surprise because Giménez is carrying an ankle issue, as became known yesterday, which kept him out of the full football practice. Given this scenario, Ángel Romero was Úbeda’s choice to partner Miguel Merentiel up front, earning a key place in the starting team.

Ángel Romero started in training.

The changes Boca would make against Cruzeiro

The team from La Ribera is forced to make two changes, one due to suspension and the other, as mentioned above, because of injury. However, those would not be the only changes their head coach would make to host the Brazilians.

Following Santiago Ascacibar’s red card against Barcelona of Ecuador, the coach opted for Tomás Belmonte. The former Lanús man won the tactical battle over Spaniard Ander Herrera, who had initially looked like the main candidate to take over the midfield alongside Leandro Paredes and Milton Delgado.

At right-back, Malcom Braida would come in for Marcelo Weigandt. Unlike the other enforced changes, this decision is purely football-related. The coaching staff was much more satisfied with the former San Lorenzo player’s performance in the second half of the last match against Huracán, pushing the former Inter Miami man to the bench.

Boca would make 3 changes to the starting lineup.

With these pieces reshuffled, the team Sifón Úbeda lined up and that is shaping up to face the Brazilian side is the following: Leandro Brey; Malcom Braida, Lautaro Di Lollo, Ayrton Costa, Lautaro Blanco; Tomás Belmonte, Leandro Paredes, Milton Delgado; Tomás Aranda; Miguel Merentiel and Ángel Romero.

Keep reading:

Boca with 3 changes: the 11 players Úbeda tested with ahead of Cruzeiro

Maximum alert at Boca over Milton Giménez days before the match against Cruzeiro

Joaquín Levinton told how Leandro Paredes “humiliated” him

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