After Superclásico win, Boca target top spot v Defensa y Justicia | OneFootball

The Xeneize come into this on a hot streak after beating River and will look to extend their unbeaten run against a Halcón side that needs to bounce back.

The team coached by Claudio Úbeda is enjoying a terrific spell. After winning the Superclásico away from home, Boca extended its run to 13 matches unbeaten and moved within striking distance of first place. They currently sit third with 24 points, and a win could secure their playoff spot and even send them to the top if they manage a wide enough margin.

With the packed schedule in mind and the upcoming international cup clash against Cruzeiro, the Boca coach is planning heavy rotation, with as many as ten changes to the team. Only Leandro Brey would keep his place in the starting eleven, while names like Nicolás Figal, Ander Herrera, Alan Velasco and Exequiel Zeballos would be in line to start.

On the other side, Mariano Soso's team needs to respond. The Halcón had enjoyed a strong start to the tournament, but after losing its unbeaten record on Matchday 13, it fell into a slump and has now suffered three straight defeats against Instituto, Talleres and Independiente. It is now under pressure in the battle for a playoff place and can’t afford to drop any more points.

The most recent meeting between the two went Defensa y Justicia’s way, as they claimed a 2-1 win in September last year thanks to a dramatic late goal from Abiel Osorio in a thrilling finish.

With clear objectives and very different realities, this clash promises intensity: Boca wants to build on its excellent form and stay in the title race, while Defensa will look to make home advantage count to remain in the qualification zone.

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