Will the Beast make it? The pain haunting Merentiel and all Boca | OneFootball

The Uruguayan asked to come off in Chile due to pubic discomfort, and Úbeda will keep a close eye on him. With Independiente just around the corner and the Superclásico on the horizon, do they risk him or rest him?

Boca came back from Santiago with a huge win over Católica, but it’s not all smiles. The victory in their Copa debut left one major concern: the physical condition of Miguel Merentiel. The Uruguayan, a key piece in attack, was substituted in the second half and is now the big question mark ahead of Saturday’s match against Independiente at La Bombonera.

The diagnosis: What’s wrong with Merentiel?

After the match, Claudio Úbeda didn’t beat around the bush and made the situation clear:

Úbeda’s dilemma: Does he play or rest?

The coaching staff has a real puzzle ahead. While the clash against the Rojo is a tough test in the Clausura Tournament, Boca’s upcoming schedule is absolutely packed:

The plan is to evaluate him day by day. If the “Beast” isn’t at 100%, Úbeda could rest him so he’s fully fit for the Libertadores and the showdown against the Millonario.

Bareiro, the partner waiting in the wings

The good news for Sifón is that Adam Bareiro was only dealing with fatigue. The Paraguayan finished “with his tongue hanging out” after his goal, but he should be available without any issues on Saturday. The problem is that without Merentiel, he loses his best partner: between them, they have 9 goals in 8 matches.

What happens if Miguel isn’t fit in time? The coach will have to decide whether to start Ander Herrera to strengthen the midfield or go with another forward to partner the Paraguayan No. 9. Crucial hours are coming up at the Ezeiza training ground.

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