With the date set: the players Boca will lose for the semi-final v Banfield | OneFootball

Ahead of the Copa Argentina semifinal between Boca and Banfield, the confirmation of the schedule set off alarm bells at the club from La Ribera. The match being scheduled during a FIFA international window will force the coaching staff to face a decisive fixture without several key players. The board remains cautious, aware that the packed domestic football calendar offered no ideal alternatives for the tournament’s decisive stage.

Boca are currently competing at the highest level on all three fronts this season, a rewarding scenario but one with extreme physical and logistical demands. The Argentine Football Association officially announced that the semifinal clash against El Taladro will be played next Saturday, November 14. The decision created a tactical dilemma for Rodolfo Arruabarrena, since the match will directly coincide with the international window for national teams.

The complications in putting together the team are nothing new for the Xeneize head coach, who already had to overcome similar absences in the recent clásico against Racing. Álvaro Montero will once again be one of the confirmed absentees due to his call-up to the Colombia national team, leaving a significant void in Boca’s goal. On top of that is the possibility of Leonel Flores and Leandro Paredes being called up by Argentina.

Vasco Arruabarrena has another headache on his hands.

Although the date originally scheduled for the final was November 4, that option depended on playing just 72 hours after the Superclásico. The board avoided making public statements about the scheduling setup, understanding that the tight calendar made it impossible to find a date without sporting costs. Thus, the blue and gold club prioritized rest after the clash against its biggest rival, accepting the risk of competing shorthanded during the FIFA window.

Boca could lose Paredes, Montero and Flores

Leandro Paredes’ situation deserves a separate chapter in planning the Xeneize squad list. The midfielder and team captain is serving a ten-match suspension imposed by FIFA after the World Cup final, a measure that is currently under appeal by the AFA. If the disciplinary body reduces the punishment to three matches, the suspension would expire in the upcoming October window, formally clearing him to return to the Albiceleste squad.

Leandro Paredes could be called up to the national team if his ban is reduced.

If the favorable ruling is confirmed, Lionel Scaloni would immediately call up the holding midfielder for Argentina’s matches, depriving Vasco Arruabarrena of his main creative hub in a knockout round. The possible loss of the midfielder would force a restructuring of the backbone of the starting lineup. The coaching staff is already evaluating tactical alternatives and personnel options in midfield to maintain the team’s balance in a must-win match with no margin for error.

Keep reading:

What time does Boca vs. Unión kick off, probable lineups and TV coverage

Carlos Tevez officially announced his farewell match at La Bombonera

Official: when Boca vs. Banfield will be played in the Copa Argentina semifinal

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