With the buzz around Ascacibar’s move, Boca visit Estudiantes at UNO | OneFootball

The "Pincha" and the "Xeneize" are looking to establish themselves in the championship, and after finalizing the Ascacibar deal, they will face off in La Plata in a match valid for the second round of the local tournament.

Boca and Estudiantes de La Plata will face each other from 22:10 at the UNO – Jorge Luis Hirschi stadium, as part of the second round of the 2026 Apertura Tournament of the Professional League.

The match will be officiated by Pablo Echevarría, with Héctor Paletta in charge of the VAR, and it comes with high expectations not only for the football but also for the negotiations both clubs had over the transfer of Santiago Ascacibar.

The midfielder and captain of the La Plata team was introduced as Boca's new signing this Tuesday. The agreement includes a sum of money and the transfer of Brian Aguirre, in a deal that marked one of the most notable moves of the current market.

In strictly sporting terms, Estudiantes comes from a 1-1 draw against Independiente in Avellaneda and aims to secure their first victory. With the Copa Libertadores as a priority goal, the "Pincha" maintained the core of the championship team and added experience with the arrival of Adolfo Gaich, although they are going through a period of adjustments due to potential departures and some physical absences, including Fernando Muslera, who remains sidelined.

Boca, meanwhile, arrives with the momentum of a 1-0 victory over Deportivo Riestra, although the result left some consequences. Alan Velasco suffered a knee sprain and will be out for at least two months, forcing the coaching staff to reconfigure the attack. His replacement would be either Kevin Zenón or Brian Aguirre himself, although the imminent inclusion of the latter in the negotiation with Estudiantes positions the former Unión player as the main alternative.

Additionally, the coach will seek to give continuity to a high-quality midfield composed of Leandro Paredes, Ander Herrera, and Tomás Belmonte, aiming to gain consistency in a long and demanding tournament.

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