Blow for Boca: Ayrton Costa misses Católica clash | OneFootball

Boca center-back Ayrton Costa was booked in the 72nd minute of the Copa clash against Cruzeiro. Due to yellow-card accumulation, he will miss the final matchday of the Copa Libertadores group stage.

What had been one of Boca’s coaching staff’s biggest concerns beforehand ultimately came to pass. In the middle of the intense and heated Copa Libertadores match against Cruzeiro, Ayrton Costa was shown a yellow card and was automatically suspended for the Xeneize’s next international fixture.

The foul that proved costly for the defender came in the 72nd minute of the match against the Brazilian side. With this booking, Costa reached the limit of three accumulated yellow cards in this edition of the continental tournament, immediately triggering the suspension set out by CONMEBOL regulations.

As a result, the center-back will be an enforced absence for the sixth and final Group Stage matchday, when Boca must decide its future by hosting Universidad Católica at La Bombonera. His absence is a headache for the bench, which will now be forced to reshuffle the back line ahead of a match that will be crucial in determining the team’s final standing in the group.

It is worth remembering that Costa was one of three players in the squad who went into this match “one booking away” from suspension. He, along with Leandro Paredes and Lautaro Blanco, knew that any disciplinary slip-up would rule them out of the group-stage finale.

Who could replace Ayrton Costa at Boca

With Costa unavailable, Sifón Úbeda will have to find a replacement in central defense for the next match, which will be played on Thursday, May 28 against the Chilean side at Alberto J. Armando Stadium. For the game, which kicks off at 9:30 p.m., one option stands out.

Pellegrino would replace Costa.

Marco Pellegrino is the leading candidate to take the vacant spot alongside Lautaro Di Lollo. Malcom Braida will likely continue at right-back, with Lautaro Blanco doing the same on the left flank.

Keep reading:

“Punishment”: Claudio Úbeda blasted Jesús Valenzuela after the draw against Cruzeiro

Boca’s player ratings in the heated draw against Cruzeiro at La Bombonera

After Boca’s draw against Cruzeiro: what the Libertadores table looks like

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