Jorge Almirón understands that the upcoming match at La Bombonera against the Colombians is a turning point for the club’s future, and he is actively assembling the strongest possible roster to make it count.
The start of Jorge Almirón’s tenure at Boca Juniors has been rocky. The team kicked off with back-to-back losses in his first week, a setback compounded by the absence of a formal unveiling that left the squad in a state of anticipation. What lies ahead is crucial for Xeneize, especially given the growing pressure and the undeniable urgency to deliver results on the continental stage.
For the second group stage match, scheduled for Tuesday at 9 p.m., the Copa Libertadores returns to La Bombonera as Boca hosts Sporting Pereira. The home side arrived after a goalless draw in their opener against Monagas, a team still coached by Mariano Herrón. In contrast, the Colombian outfit opened with a draw against Colo Colo, signaling a balanced start to the campaign for both sides.
THE CALLED OF MOUTH
The squad has only two training sessions before the pivotal clash, and the objective is clear: win, ideally with a solid performance that would grant Almirón a short respite. Following the victory over Estudiantes, training sessions were held for players who did not feature in the Pincha match or who logged limited minutes, such as Zeballos and Advínula.
Regarding absentees, Juan Ramírez joins the already announced injuries to Bruno Valdez and Luca Langoni, who departed the Estudiantes game after suffering a thigh issue in the first half. While Langoni’s status remains under review, he has been ruled out for the immediate forthcoming fixtures pending further evaluation.
THE FORMATION OF THE MOUTH
After another underwhelming performance, changes appear inevitable, though the extent remains to be seen. On the mend are players who could return to action, including Luis Advíncula, Nicolás Figal, Agustín Sández, Pol Fernández, and Sebastián Villa.
The critical question is whether Almirón will revert to his preferred system after two matches and, with Zeballos available, lean toward a traditional 4-3-3 setup. If that is the route taken, a probable starting XI could be Sergio Romero in goal; Advínula, Figal, Roncaglia, Sández in defense; Pol Fernández, Alan Varela, Oscar Romero in midfield; Zeballos, Benedetto, and Villa in attack.
ALTERNATIVE
To confirm.
End of report.