Úbeda makes 10 changes for Boca's trip to Defensa y Justicia | OneFootball

With confidence sky-high and on track in both competitions, Claudio Úbeda is once again turning to full rotation for this Thursday’s visit to Defensa y Justicia. With the idea of resting the 10 outfield starters who beat River on Sunday at the Monumental so they can be at 100% for Tuesday’s Copa Libertadores clash against Cruzeiro, the coach will once again field a fully alternate lineup, just as he did against Independiente.

The results and improving performances have significantly strengthened Sifón’s standing on the Xeneize bench. The coach took some bold risks in recent matches and they paid off: 6 out of 6 in the Copa Libertadores and well positioned in Zone A of the local tournament, Boca will go to Florencio Varela with players who already managed to earn a solid draw against El Rojo and who, in some cases, have become real options for key moments.

In this scenario, the only one who will keep his place is Leandro Brey. With Agustín Marchesín injured, the youngster who arrived in 2022 from Los Andes will be in goal again. The rest will be almost the same starting 11 that drew 1-1 against Independiente last Saturday at La Bombonera. The only two changes will be: Williams Alarcón for Camilo Rey Domenech (who will play in the Reserve Superclásico) and Exequiel Zeballos (now recovered) for Ángel Romero, who is seeing less and less playing time.

Besides the aforementioned draw against the Avellaneda club, this back line had already been tested earlier in the Copa Argentina: aside from Juan Barinaga (Marcelo Weigandt played that day), the other three had already shared the field in the competition. Nicolás Figal, Marco Pellegrino (the top performer), and Malcom Braida.

In midfield, the new face is Alarcón’s presence. The Chilean will form the central pairing with Tomás Belmonte, while ahead of them will be Alan Velasco, Ánder Herrera, and Exequiel Zeballos. Up front, Milton Giménez will play as the lone striker, currently the only alternative Sifón has to his first-choice strike duo.

With the 3,000 Boca fans who will back the team at the Norberto Tito Tomaghello, Xeneize have earned some margin for error thanks to a string of victories. A win would seal a place in the Apertura round of 16, although a loss or a draw would not complicate qualification for the next round (though it probably would affect home-field advantage). Beyond any changes against Halcón, the starters will go into the match against Cruzeiro with more than a week of rest.

The team Úbeda tested for Boca’s visit to Defensa y Justicia

Leandro Brey; Juan Barinaga, Nicolás Figal, Marco Pellegrino, Malcom Braida; Williams Alarcón, Tomás Belmonte; Alan Velasco, Ánder Herrera, Exequiel Zeballos; Milton Giménez.

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