After Alianza Lima loss, who starts as Libertadores returns home? | OneFootball

Starting at 9 p.m. today, when Boca take on Barcelona of Ecuador, the Copa Libertadores will return to La Bombonera after more than a year away. The last time a match in this competition was played at Brandsen 805 was on February 25, 2025, when Boca suffered a traumatic penalty-shootout elimination against Alianza Lima.

The loss to the Peruvian side, in a match widely expected to be manageable, marked a milestone in the Xeneize history books: the earliest elimination they had ever suffered in South America’s most prestigious club tournament. Even though not much time has passed, few of those who took the field that day will do so again in today’s clash against El Ídolo.

With the starting lineup yet to be confirmed for the side from La Ribera, Agustín Marchesín would be one of only three players to start both matches. That day, the goalkeeper drew endless criticism for asking then-manager Fernando Gago to replace him with Leandro Brey for the penalty shootout. Although Brey had far better numbers in that area and had saved four out of four against Gimnasia in the Copa Argentina a few months earlier, he failed to stop a single shot.

Curiously, none of the starting defenders who featured in the defeat to the Peruvian team will do so against the side from Guayaquil, mainly because Luis Advíncula (who in fact switched sides), Marcos Rojo, and Marcelo Saracchi left the club. The only one still wearing blue and gold is Rodrigo Battaglia, but he suffered a very serious ligament injury that will keep him off the pitch for at least four more months.

At that time, the arrival of Leandro Paredes was still just a dream, but Milton Delgado was in midfield and he is also set to play today. Alongside him were Ander Herrera, now much more established in the team and a regular presence throughout 2026, Kevin Zenón, who scored the second goal that day but has lost a great deal of ground and was even left out of the squad on several occasions, and Carlos Palacios, another player who required surgery and has yet to receive medical clearance.

That day’s strike partnership was made up of Miguel Merentiel, another player set to feature again despite the pubis discomfort that bothered him over the weekend, and Edinson Cavani, who is currently in full rehabilitation from a herniated disc and is only just beginning fieldwork again.

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