Santiago Ascacibar could make his Boca debut against Newell’s | OneFootball

The Russian practiced football this Thursday with his teammates, and everything indicates that he would be called up for the duel next Sunday. What solutions would he provide to Úbeda?

After a tough 2-1 defeat against Estudiantes that exposed Boca's midfield, Santiago Ascacíbar emerges as one of the names that could offer solutions to Claudio Úbeda in that area of the field ahead of the clash against Newell’s next Sunday at 19:00 in La Bombonera. It is not yet known if he will start, as he will arrive with four training sessions, but it is expected that he will be part of the squad list, gain minutes, and gradually integrate into the starting eleven. Now, what can the Russian bring to the Xeneize midfield.

Even though he is not inept with the ball at his feet, Ascacíbar did not arrive to solve the deficits in playmaking. Considering the role Eduardo Domínguez gave him at Estudiantes over the last two years, the Russian is expected to be the midfielder who most frequently enters the area in a hypothetical midfield with Leandro Paredes and Ander Herrera.

In an ideal scenario, the world champion with the Argentine National Team would be responsible for providing a clear exit for the team, the Spaniard would be the link between the midfield and the attack, and the former Estudiantes player would arrive in the area from behind to support the current center forward, whose name is currently unknown due to a plague of injuries.

This role, occupied by Tomás Belmonte during the friendly against Olimpia and in the Apertura debut against Deportivo Riestra, suits the Russian well, who has significantly improved his numbers in the opponent's area in recent years. First with Enzo Pérez covering his back and then with Gabriel Neves, Mikel Amondarain, or Ezequiel Piovi, the player from La Plata scored 18 goals and provided five assists since his return to the club where he was born in 2023.

Additionally, he has not lost his tackling ability and defensive perception, an aspect in which he excelled as a young player, allowing him to be part of the youth teams and make the leap to Europe.

However, Úbeda will need to rethink the playmaking process. With Paredes increasingly harassed by opponents (something seen in La Plata and several recent matches in 2025), the team struggles in this aspect and relies on a moment of brilliance from Exequiel Zeballos or a set piece to open the matches.

Even though Ander Herrera improves Boca every time he is on the field, his physical condition is not a guarantee, and since his arrival, he has not completed any match. To make matters worse, Alan Velasco and Carlos Palacios, two players who could take charge of playmaking, are injured.

In summary, Ascacíbar arrives to solve one of the two major deficits in Boca's midfield: scoring. In him, Úbeda might find the attacking midfielder he couldn't find in Belmonte, Alarcón, and much less in Milton Delgado, who has different characteristics. However, the other major issue in the Xeneize sector, playmaking, remains unresolved. This will be a problem Úbeda will have to solve with what he has, another reinforcement, or a young player? Time will tell.

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