The week ahead marks the busiest period of the season for Boca Juniors, with coach Jorge Almirón already mapping out a plan to secure seventh place in the Copa Libertadores at the iconic Maracanã.
The countdown began with the match set for Saturday, November 4, at 5:00 PM, a date charged with the hope of lifting the long-awaited seventh Copa Libertadores trophy. Boca faces Fluminense at the Maracanã, a venue defined by CONMEBOL as neutral for this final, yet still a familiar battleground for the Brazilian club that makes the stadium feel almost like home turf.
WHEN DOES BOCA TRAVEL TO BRAZIL
The team reached these final stages through nerve and precision, clinching advancement on penalties after clean, scoreless draws in each round. They eliminated Nacional de Montevideo, Racing, and Palmeiras by penalty shootouts, turning tense moments into triumphant exits without tasting defeat or a single victory in regulation across the three ties.
BOCA’S CALLS FOR THE FINAL
Initially, the plan was to keep a strong lineup for the last league fixtures to preserve momentum. In the end, Almirón chose caution following concerns over Darío Benedetto and Nicolás Valentini, who reported discomfort during training in Avellaneda and stayed under observation rather than risking a premature return to play.
Valentini, the young central defender who had been a worry, resumed training at the Predio and moved as if fully fit. The sense is that he will slot in as a replacement for Marcos Rojo, who is suspended after the red card shown against Palmeiras. Alongside him, captain Rojo is unavailable, and Exequiel Zeballos remains out following a ligament injury. Still, the rest of the squad is anticipated to travel to Brazil on Wednesday, with 23 players expected to be named on the travel roster.
THE FORMATION OF MOUTH
Even with a recent stretch of limited playing time, Almirón has been clear about the tactical setup since the semifinal win over Palmeiras. Valentini will fill the defensive void left by Rojo, and the system is expected to align with the core that has carried the team through the campaign. The backline could feature Miguel Merentiel partnering Edinson Cavani up front, while Luis Advíncula remains at right-back, anchoring a compact and dynamic unit behind a midfield trio charged with keeping control in the center of the park.
The likely starting XI would read as follows: Sergio Romero in goal; Luis Advíncula, Nicolás Figal, Nicolás Valentini, Frank Fabra across the back line; Cristian Medina, Pol Fernández, Equi Fernández, Valentín Barco in midfield; Miguel Merentiel and Edinson Cavani up front. This arrangement aims to balance experience and youthful energy while preserving the rhythm built over the season.
Source: Goal