After a defeat to San Lorenzo on his first outing, Almirón makes his debut at La Bombonera and moves to shape the lineup himself, signaling a hands-on approach to repair the balance of the team.
Jorge Almirón’s start at Boca Juniors has drawn scrutiny. The setback on the road against San Lorenzo on the 11th matchday of the league could have been harsher if the club’s supporters hadn’t hoped for a spark from the new era. Rather than a clear revival, the performance echoed earlier issues that had lingered from the start of the year, casting a shadow over the fresh changes on the touchline.
Boca’s complete schedule for 2023
With the visit to La Bombonera looming, Almirón faces Estudiantes on matchday 12, knowing there is little room for error if a title push is to stay alive. The fixture against Estudiantes is scheduled for Saturday, April 15 at 7 p.m. at Alberto J. Armando, ahead of Boca’s second Libertadores match, a home tie against Deportivo Pereira set for the following Tuesday.
BOCA JUNIORS vs. ESTUDIANTES
The poor collective display and the loss to San Lorenzo brought additional blows: Bruno Valdez suffered a muscle injury sustained in the rival’s box and remains a doubt for the Estudiantes game, awaiting a precise diagnosis; Nicolás Figal is suspended after a red card; and Luca Langoni will undergo tests to determine whether there is a problem after being substituted during the game.
Meanwhile, a new addition who wasn’t considered during the Hugo Ibarra era has integrated into the squad after watching Monday’s reserve game from a close angle and entering the rotation set by Almirón.
THE MOUTH’S SETUP AGAINST ESTUDIANTES
Almirón’s biggest challenge in assembling the XI for the Boca versus Estudiantes clash is clear: without Figal or Valdez, the natural central pairing becomes Nicolás Valentini and Facundo Roncaglia. The formation with five at the back seems unlikely to be repeated, though there is speculation that Agustín Sández could be moved into a central role as Ibarra once experimented.
On the other hand, with Langoni facing a reduced role, Norberto Briasco could earn a starting spot if the coach opts to support the attacking trio from the outset.
Ultimately, the lineup remains uncertain, and given the tepid collective performance at the New Gasometer, it wouldn’t be surprising to see changes across multiple lines as Almirón tinkers to restore balance.
— Goal