Rodolfo Arruabarrena to debut earlier as Boca face Sarmiento on 16 July | OneFootball

Rodolfo Arruabarrena’s first match in charge of Boca will come sooner than planned. The Copa Argentina organisers have confirmed a last 32 tie against Sarmiento for Thursday 16 July, forcing a quicker build-up.

The official schedule change alters the new coach’s working plan. Kick-off time and neutral venue are still to be set, and the knockout will be played while the FIFA World Cup reaches its decisive phase. It also leaves a week less to prepare.

Arruabarrena, known as El Vasco, faces an early examination with the possible absence of Leandro Paredes, depending on Argentina’s progress at the World Cup. The squad are on holiday, with pre-season due to start on 18 June.

Until recently, his bow was pencilled in for the Copa Sudamericana last 32 first leg against O’Higgins on 23 July at La Bombonera. That continental fixture will now come after valuable domestic minutes.

The accelerated start means swift decisions on system and personnel. Work at the Ezeiza training base is set to intensify so the group absorb Arruabarrena’s ideas and rediscover the proactive edge demanded by the Xeneize shirt.

Against this timeline, the transfer market becomes pivotal, with hopes the board can finalise the senior additions requested by the staff in the coming weeks. Boca need proven options to handle a demanding run that could define the semester.

Source: LaNumer12.com.ar