Boca's line-up vs Universidad Católica, Copa Libertadores | OneFootball

The coach is considering implementing a two-stage training camp ahead of Thursday’s decisive Copa Libertadores clash. He had already done so in key matches, such as the Superclásico against River and last year’s playoffs, with generally positive results.

Boca has everything on the line next Thursday against Universidad Católica. At La Bombonera, Claudio Úbeda’s team will decide nothing less than its future in the Copa Libertadores and, given the magnitude of the occasion, the coach is weighing a return to a formula that has already worked for him: a two-stage training camp.

The idea being considered by the coaching staff is for the squad to remain isolated for the two days leading up to the decisive match against the Chilean side (Tuesday and Wednesday), a method he has already used in pressure-filled moments since arriving at the club.The goal is to sharpen the team’s competitive focus, strengthen togetherness, and prepare in greater detail for a match that Boca views as a true final.

It would not be the first time. During the decisive stretch of 2025, especially in the local tournament playoffs, the coach had already turned to extended training camps as a way to shield the group during weeks of maximum pressure.

And the strongest recent precedent came precisely against River. In the lead-up to that match, Úbeda also decided to keep the squad together for two days, and Boca ended up winning at the Monumental, in one of the most important victories of his spell in charge. Behind closed doors, they believe those kinds of measures help reduce distractions and create a stronger sense of collective commitment.

Now, the situation is once again critical for the team from La Ribera. The draw against Cruzeiro left the Xeneize with no margin for error and needing to beat Universidad Católica to secure qualification for the Copa Libertadores round of 16.

That is why, while the squad trains with Thursday in mind, Úbeda and his coaching staff are putting the finishing touches on whether to repeat a formula that, so far, has delivered results in high-stakes matches. At Boca, they know every detail starts playing its part before the ball even starts rolling.

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