Leandro Paredes makes first Superclásico start for Boca v River | OneFootball

Next Sunday, La Bombonera will be the stage for a special chapter in the personal history of Leandro Paredes. A world champion with the national team and one of the most anticipated returns in Argentine football, the midfielder will have his first start in a Superclásico, an event that, despite his extensive international career, has not yet appeared in his career.

Paredes already knows what it's like to face River, although his memories of those matches date back to a very different stage. The first time was on October 28, 2012, when at just 18 years old and with 385 minutes in the First Division, Julio César Falcioni decided to send him onto the field at the Monumental. Boca was losing 2-1, and the young player dared to take the ball and participate in the play that led to the equalizer: a cross that resulted in Walter Erviti's goal at the last minute.

His second encounter occurred months later, under the management of Carlos Bianchi. On that occasion, he entered in the second half, replacing Lautaro Acosta, in a tight Superclásico that ended 1-1 in La Boca. Since then, the football life of the native of San Justo took a radical turn: Roma, Paris Saint Germain, Juventus, a World Cup, and a return to the club of his dreams more than a decade later.

The present finds him with a different maturity and a leading role within Claudio Úbeda's team. Captain and football leader, he will be the axis of the xeneize midfield against River. His striking ability, game reading, and hierarchy will be key in a match where Boca will seek to assert presence through leadership and experience.

At 31 years old, Paredes will have the opportunity to write a new page in his history with the Boca jersey. It will be the first time the midfielder, a champion of everything with the national team, will come out from the starting lineup to play the most intense, passionate, and emblematic match in the country.

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