Úbeda plans three Boca changes v Cruzeiro: Ascacíbar cover, one doubt | OneFootball

Although the final training session will be on Saturday, the coaching staff know they are forced to make two changes due to suspensions and injuries. In addition, based on performance, the decision is to make one more tactical adjustment.

The days of a long week since the elimination in the Apertura go by, and little by little the moment of truth is approaching for a Boca side that no longer has any margin for error in the Copa Libertadores. After the loss to Huracán and ahead of the match against Barcelona in Ecuador in the final Group D round, Claudio Úbeda’s team has a lot at stake against Cruzeiro next Tuesday at La Bombonera if it wants to keep control of its own destiny in the fight to qualify.

In that critical context, the coach has started to define the starting eleven and has virtually confirmed three changes, although he still has a major doubt in midfield: who will replace Santiago Ascacíbar. While the final training session will be on Saturday, there are already some updates.

The midfielder was sent off against Barcelona for his kick on Milton Céliz and will miss, at the very least, the clash against the Brazilian side. The main news is the return of Ander Herrera, fully recovered from the grade II tear in his left hamstring that he suffered during the warm-up before the match against Defensa y Justicia. The Spaniard now appears to be the leading candidate to take that spot.

However, Úbeda is still weighing alternatives. Another possibility is the inclusion of Tomás Belmonte, a more natural option to maintain balance in midfield, although with different characteristics from Ascacíbar. And the third option is Exequiel Zeballos, a move that would clearly alter the team’s structure.

If Chango plays, Boca could switch to a much more attacking setup, close to a 4-3-3 or even a flexible 4-4-2, with Zeballos stationed on the left and Tomás Aranda moving from the right toward the center, a role similar to the one Carlos Palacios used to occupy in the final stretch of last year.

In addition, there are two other changes that are practically decided. The first will be in attack: Adam Bareiro has been ruled out due to the double muscle tear he suffered against Huracán, and everything indicates that Milton Giménez will take his place. Even so, Edinson Cavani is already training with the group again and will try to at least make the matchday squad. Still, it seems hard to imagine him starting given his limited activity in 2026, when he has played only two matches due to his recurring lower-back problems.

The other change will be at right-back. Marcelo Weigandt is going through a poor spell and his performances have been questioned both internally and by the fans, who jeered him in the defeat to Huracán. Given that scenario, Malcom Braida will keep the spot unless something unexpected happens after coming on there at halftime in the last match.

With six points from two wins and two losses, Boca sit third in Group D, behind Universidad Católica and Cruzeiro, both on seven points. That is why Tuesday’s match has taken on the feel of a final: Xeneize are aiming to win so as not to become even more compromised and, if possible, by more than one goal to hold the edge in the event of a tie on points in the final stretch of the group.

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