Boca forced into change to face Universidad Católica in decisive tie | OneFootball

Boca's 2026 Copa Libertadores group campaign reaches its decisive point on Thursday 28 May, when Universidad Católica visit La Bombonera. Claudio Úbeda's side must win to guarantee a place in the last 16 and will be forced into a change.

According to LaNumer12.com.ar, centre-back Ayrton Costa is suspended after a booking at 72 minutes in the bruising meeting with Cruzeiro. The caution took him to three in the competition, triggering a one-match ban under CONMEBOL rules, so he misses the Chileans' visit.

The main candidate to replace him is Marco Pellegrino. If chosen, he would partner Lautaro Di Lollo in central defence, with Malcom Braida on the right and Lautaro Blanco on the left.

Group D is tight, with Cruzeiro on 8 points, and Boca and Universidad Católica on 7. The Chileans have a game in hand before facing Barcelona SC, who have 3.

The match, the sixth and final group fixture, kicks off at 21:30. The referee will be announced in the coming hours.

Boca come into it after a controversial clash with Cruzeiro, in which referee Jesús Valenzuela was criticised for differing thresholds on similar incidents. He ruled out Merentiel's second for a Delgado handball in the box, but did not award a penalty when Romero handled with his left forearm.

Source: LaNumer12.com.ar