Although he received a call from Jorge Almirón, the forward will have to watch Boca play from home due to a serious injury sustained in Córdoba.
One of the key absences for Boca in the Libertadores Cup final is Exequiel Zeballos. While not always a guaranteed starter under Almirón, he frequently came off the bench to lead the attack when the team needed a relentless forward presence. Yet the Changuito will not only miss a spot on the bench; he did not even travel with the squad to Brazil.
WHAT INJURY DID EL CHANGUITO SUFFER AND WHY DID HE NOT TRAVEL TO RIO DE JANEIRO
The setback occurred on Tuesday, October 10, when Boca faced Belgrano in Alberdi. Zeballos entered the fray nine minutes into the match and soon faced a troubling injury. He suffered a rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament and an injury to the external meniscus of his right knee. The treatment required surgery, which took place in the days that followed, on Monday, October 23.
When the squad was announced for the trip to Rio de Janeiro, Zeballos’s name appeared on the list, alongside Marcos Rojo, who was out due to suspension. However, the medical team advised the winger to stay in Buenos Aires to protect his recovery. Traveling would entail extended travel and physical exertion for a joint that had just undergone surgery, potentially jeopardizing the rehabilitation process.
The decision to keep Zeballos behind was communicated as a precaution, prioritizing his long-term return to full fitness over a single match. The medical staff emphasized that avoiding the strain of air travel and additional movement would help ensure that the knee could heal without complications. The absence of Zeballos adds to the challenge of assembling a fully capable attacking unit for the decisive fixture, leaving the team to rely on other forwards and tactical alternatives to breach the opponent’s defense.
In the wider context of Boca’s campaign, the injury underscores the club’s sensitivity to roster depth in high-stakes matches. The coaching staff must adapt quickly, recalibrating their approach to maximize the effectiveness of available players while preserving the health of those returning from setbacks. The situation also highlights the importance of youth prospects within the squad, who may be asked to step into larger roles should injuries persist. As the team prepares for the remainder of the competition, the emphasis remains on risk management, squad rotation, and strategic planning to maintain competitive momentum despite the setback.
While fans and analysts monitor Zeballos’s rehabilitation timeline, the immediate priority for Boca is to secure a positive result through coordinated teamwork and disciplined execution. The coaching staff will likely emphasize a compact defense, swift counterattacks, and the utilization of other attacking options to compensate for the absence of the Changuito. With the medical team overseeing the recovery and the players rallying behind the mission, Boca aims to navigate the challenge with resilience and a clear plan for the final phases of the season.