Russo to decide: same Boca XI or Velasco in for Palacios?

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·23 August 2025

Russo to decide: same Boca XI or Velasco in for Palacios?

In the last practice before the match against Banfield, the technical staff will carry out a tactical session to confirm whether they will introduce at least one change or repeat the team for the first time in their cycle.

The victory against Independiente Rivadavia de Mendoza, the first in Miguel Ángel Russo's cycle, which ended a streak of 12 matches without a win, may mark a before and after. It can be that turning point, that starting point to change the face. And the first sign that the coach saw something different is that he is considering repeating the same formation, something unprecedented in his two months in charge.

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The practice on Saturday will be key to clearing up the doubt ahead of the match against Banfield this Sunday at La Bombonera. What is it, specifically? Whether the technical staff will confirm the same eleven or make at least one change to the team that comes from thrashing in Mendoza.

The tactical session prior to the sixth matchday of the Torneo Clausura will be decisive. First, to understand the plan and the names that are prioritized; but above all, to see if it gets the response it expects. It's that lately Russo hasn't put on the field the team that he had tested in the final rehearsal due to his disagreement with the performance.

In the event that he decides to make changes, as the trend suggests, the change that is gaining the most strength in Boca's formation is the return of Alan Velasco to the starting lineup in place of Carlos Palacios. The former Independiente player is on the rise after shaking off his bad luck and scoring his first goal, while the Chilean did not take advantage of his chance in Malvinas Argentinas.

As for the rest, there is a small question mark about the possibility of Ayrton Costa being able to add minutes after a long recovery from a muscle strain. The curiosity is that, if the technical staff decides to include him, he would play as left-back instead of Lautaro Blanco, since they see Marco Pellegrino as a firm starter and won't move him from the defense. However, this second variant doesn't have much basis.