Boca on alert before Chile trip: Álvaro Montero ended with a knock | OneFootball

Boca’s harsh and historic defeat to Deportivo Riestra left consequences that go beyond the adverse result in the local competition. Álvaro Montero, after a shaky performance between the posts, left the stadium with clear physical discomfort and set off all the alarms ahead of the imminent Copa Sudamericana clash in Chile.

The disappointment at the blue and gold club is not only due to the crushing 3-0 defeat suffered at Guillermo Laza Stadium. After the match ended, the Colombian goalkeeper showed serious difficulty walking as he passed through the mixed zone. The keeper’s gestures of pain, clearly captured by the cameras on site, created an atmosphere of uncertainty on his way to the team bus.

Montero endured a truly forgettable day in what was only his second official appearance since his arrival, arranged by the club’s board in this transfer window. He looked erratic and was directly at fault for all three goals scored by the home side, weakening the team’s defensive solidity. The medical staff will subject the player to thorough tests in the coming hours to determine whether there is an injury.

Time is pressing in the strategic planning of the coaching staff led by Rodolfo Arruabarrena. The coach needs clear answers to organize the logistics of the flight scheduled for next Wednesday, knowing that an absence in goal would substantially alter the team’s preparation for Thursday’s second leg, as they look to reach the round of 16 of the continental competition.

Boca’s challenge in Chile and the dilemma in goal

Boca have the unavoidable obligation to turn the page quickly, as they will face O'Higgins this Thursday in the city of Rancagua. The match is the second leg of the round of 32, a stage the club from La Ribera reaches with a narrow advantage after winning the first leg 1-0. Estadio Codelco El Teniente will be the decisive venue where a place in the next round will be on the line.

If medical tests confirm that the Colombian goalkeeper is not in optimal condition to be included in the traveling squad, the Vasco will have to make a forced change in a crucial area of the pitch. This possible dilemma will force the coach to place his trust in the alternatives available on the bench to protect Boca’s goal: Leandro Brey and Javier García.

Keep reading:

Like Boca, O'Higgins also lost: this is how they head into the second leg

Boca’s ratings in the historic embarrassment against Riestra

Boca had a historic embarrassment and were thrashed by Riestra

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