With Merentiel back, Boca’s likely line-up to face Vélez | OneFootball

Sunday is approaching, and amidst an unrelenting streak of injuries, Claudio Úbeda is trying to piece together the puzzle that Boca's lineup has become. Alongside the headaches caused by the absences of Ander Herrera and Exequiel Zeballos, two regular starters, there is now some good news: Miguel Merentiel has been medically cleared and will be a starter in the visit to Vélez.

The Beast defied all odds with his record recovery from a calf strain, participated in Wednesday's double training session (which left many consequences), and, despite not being in ideal rhythm, the circumstances — given the flood of absences in the offensive sector — quickly return him to the starting eleven.

He will be an immediate solution in the context of a depleted Boca, especially without Zeballos. Without a natural number 9 in the last two matches, Merentiel's return, an undisputed starter in that position and one of the team's key players, represents significant relief for the coach, who now must decide who will accompany him in attack.

Gonzalo Gelini, who had a good debut at La Bombonera against Newell’s after gaining minutes against Estudiantes, is likely to remain as the right winger. The main question is on the opposite wing: Kevin Zenón has chances to enter, although there is also the possibility that Iker Zufiaurre will continue in the xeneize eleven, this time in his natural position and not as an improvised center forward.

Merentiel will replace Zeballos, and the other forced change will be Herrera's exit, also due to a strain. Here arises the second doubt in the lineup to face Vélez: the fight for the third midfielder to accompany Leandro Paredes and Santiago Ascacíbar. If Úbeda maintains the 4-3-3, the replacement is between Milton Delgado and Tomás Belmonte. The youngster offers a more positional profile, while the former Lanús player would provide arrival in the area, freeing the world champion to manage the timing from the center.

Cavani, on the other hand, is dealing with a back issue that has prevented him from fully preparing and has not been part of any of Boca's matches this year. Both Tuesday and Wednesday, he practiced normally, and if everything continues this way, he will be on the bench against Vélez.

In the next formal football training session (Thursday's at La Bombonera was canceled due to heavy rain), when the coaching staff conducts the final tactical drill, Boca's new eleven will be outlined to seek the third victory in the Apertura and firmly position themselves in the top spots (currently sixth, in the qualifying zone). At this point, two or three changes are anticipated.

The probable Boca lineup to play against Vélez: Agustín Marchesín; Juan Barinaga, Lautaro Di Lollo, Ayrton Costa, Lautaro Blanco; Santiago Ascacíbar, Leandro Paredes, Milton Delgado or Tomás Belmonte; Gonzalo Gelini, Miguel Merentiel, and Kevin Zenón or Iker Zufiaurre. Coach: Claudio Úbeda.

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