Úbeda plans three Boca changes v Cruzeiro: Ascacíbar cover, one doubt | OneFootball

Although the final practice will be on Saturday, the coaching staff knows they are forced to make two changes due to suspensions and injuries. In addition, because of performance, the decision is to make one more tactical adjustment.

The days go by in a long week after the elimination in the Apertura, and little by little the moment of truth is approaching for a Boca side that no longer has any margin for error in the Copa Libertadores. After the loss to Huracán and before facing Barcelona in Ecuador on the final matchday of Group D, Claudio Úbeda’s team has a lot at stake against Cruzeiro next Tuesday at La Bombonera if it wants to keep depending on itself in the fight for qualification.

In that high-pressure context, the coach has started to define the starting eleven and has three changes practically confirmed, although he still has one major doubt in midfield: who will replace Santiago Ascacíbar. While the final practice will be on Saturday, there are already updates.

The midfielder was sent off against Barcelona for his kick on Milton Céliz and will miss, at the very least, the clash against the Brazilian side. The main piece of news is the return of Ander Herrera, fully recovered from the grade II tear in his left hamstring that he suffered during the warm-up before the match against Defensa y Justicia. The Spaniard currently appears to be the leading candidate to fill that spot.

However, Úbeda is still considering alternatives. Another possibility is Tomás Belmonte coming in, a more natural option to maintain balance in midfield, although with different characteristics from Ascacíbar. And the third option is Exequiel Zeballos, a choice that would clearly alter the team’s structure.

If the Chango plays, Boca could switch to a much more attacking setup, close to a 4-3-3 or even a flexible 4-4-2, with Zeballos drifting to the left and Tomás Aranda moving from the right into the center, a role similar to the one Carlos Palacios used to occupy in the final stretch of last year.

In addition, there are two other changes that are practically decided. The first will be in attack: Adam Bareiro has been ruled out because of the double muscle tear he suffered against Huracán, and everything indicates that Milton Giménez will take his place. In any case, Edinson Cavani is already training with the group again and will try to make it into the squad list at least. Even so, it seems hard to imagine him in the starting lineup given his limited activity in 2026, when he has played only two matches due to his recurring lower-back problems.

The other change will be at right back. Marcelo Weigandt is going through a poor run of form and his performances have been questioned both internally and by the fans, who jeered him in the loss against Huracán. Given that situation, Malcom Braida will keep the spot barring any setbacks after coming on there at halftime in the last match.

With six points from two wins and two losses, Boca sits third in Group D, behind Universidad Católica and Cruzeiro, both on seven points. That is why Tuesday’s match has taken on the feel of a final: the Xeneize is aiming to win so as not to fall into a more difficult position and, if possible, by more than one goal to have the edge in the event of a tie on points in the final stretch of the group.

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