Following the triumph over Belgrano, Boca Juniors heads to La Paternal with four suspended players back in action and two injuries lingering. The latest win in the Superclásico, a solid 2-0 performance against Belgrano, showcased a team moving with greater football maturity and left the squad in positive spirits for the remainder of the campaign. Now the club faces a meaningful test on the 17th round when they travel to face Gabriel Milito’s challenging Argentinos Juniors.
The clash is scheduled for this Friday, May 19 at 9:30 PM, taking place at the Diego Armando Maradona stadium. After this match, the team will travel to Colombia on Wednesday the 24th to meet Deportivo Pereira, a game that could effectively seal a spot in the Copa Libertadores round of 16.
THE BOCA JUNIORS VS. ARGENTINOS JUNIORS MATCH
After suffering a dozen injuries in the Belgrano encounter, coach Jorge Almirón is set to welcome back at least six players for the showdown with the Bicho. Nicolas Valentini and Miguel Merentiel return to the squad after suspensions, while Alan Varela and Guillermo Fernandez have served their bans for yellow-card accumulation against River. Bruno Valdez and Juan Ramirez rejoined the group after releasing their respective tears and resuming training with the main squad.
On the other hand, Equi Fernandez remains unavailable as he serves a suspension for incidents against River, and Luca Langoni, Marcos Rojo, and Exequiel Zeballos are nursing injuries. Forward Dario Benedetto, midfielder Cristian Medina, and winger Oscar Romero, who played on Sunday against El Pirata, showed clear improvement and are not expected to undergo any medical checks, making them likely selections for the coach.
THE BOCA DEPARTURE REMAINS A QUESTION, however, as the tactical picture becomes clearer. Almirón faces his first real challenge since joining the club: balancing the squad as two regular starters appear ready to return, Pol Fernández and Alan Varela. With Medina delivering consistently at a high level and Payero pressing for a chance to influence the opponent’s goal, there could be up to four players competing for two starting spots. The coach will reveal the final choices in due course.
THE FORMATION OF BOCA JUNIORS
For the first time since arriving at the club, Almirón confronts a genuine selection dilemma. The previous match showcased strong performances, yet two trusted starters seem prepared to return to the lineup, which complicates the selection process for the coach. The precise lineup remains to be announced, but the options are rich and the competition healthy.
Óscar Romero is widely considered a strong option to start, yet Medina’s form and Payero’s eagerness for entering the opposing half keep the decision finely balanced. In the end, it might come down to the subtle preferences of the manager and the tactical demands of the game, with several players evenly poised for a breakthrough moment.
THE REPLACEMENTS FOR BOCA
To be determined. The squad has depth ready to be mobilized, and the coaching staff will assess conditions and opposition style before finalizing the substitutes who will impact the match from the bench.