The last practice for the match against Monagas, this Thursday at the end of the group stage, delivered some confirmations. Boca will play against the Venezuelans without two of their referents. Dario Benedetto and Marcos Rojo will not be in the game. Will they be able to return to Sarmiento, on Sunday at the Bombonera?
Much had been speculated about Rojo's return. Without going any further, in the practices of Sunday and Monday, the caudillo played among the starters, making a central duo with Bruno Valdez. Jorge Almirón's idea was to preserve Nicolás Figal, who has two yellows and is at risk of being left out in the first match of the knockout stages.
However, on Tuesday they lowered their training loads and this Wednesday morning, at the Ezeiza Training Center, they did not participate in the practice directly. The coach decided that the best option was not to rush the return of the captain, who has not played an official match since October 12 last year, when he tore the ligaments in his right knee against Sarmiento, coincidentally Sunday's opponent.
His recovery came at a good pace, to the point of playing 45 minutes in the Reserve against Arsenal. However, in early June he tore the anterior rectum of his right leg. Now, eight and a half months after his last meeting for points, the referent sought to return to the scene. You will have to wait a few more days.
Rojo has not played since October 12 last year. Photo: Twitter Boca.
In this way, Figal will be a starter, despite the fact that a new warning will result in a suspension for the first leg of the next phase against a rival that Boca will know on July 5, when the draw takes place in Conmebol.
Benedetto's case involves tendinitis in his right knee. Pipa played the first half against Godoy Cruz in Mendoza and was replaced by Luis Vázquez. He has fluid in the area, his joint is inflamed and throughout the week he trained in a differentiated way.
His replacement will be Miguel Merentiel, who is optimal after the tear in the right adductor he suffered on June 7 against Colo Colo. In that match, which determined the classification of Boca, the Uruguayan had to leave the field very soon. Now, as they told Clarín, "he is sharp in every training."
Merentiel will have another chance in Boca. Photo: EFE/Ernesto Guzmán Jr.
Another who will return after his injury is Frank Fabra, who also tore himself, although in the left hamstring, in the duel with the Chileans.
If you take into account the team that was crushed by Godoy Cruz at the foot of the Cordillera, there would be four changes: Valdez for Facundo Roncaglia, Fabra for Nahuel Génez, Martín Payero for Oscar Romero and Merentiel for Benedetto.
Boca will line up Sergio Romero; Marcelo Weigandt, Valdez, Figal, Fabra; Cristian Medina, Alan Varela, Payero; Pol Fernández, Merentiel and Valentín Barco.
Under this situation, BArco will again play as a left winger. Almirón observes that the 18-year-old has more attacking ability than strength in the brand. And a virtue: he faces inwards with his best profile, which allows him to project himself to Fabra.
Boca look to win and finish first in their group, something that seems resolved with the exception of a sporting catastrophe, which would be to fall to the Venezuelans and a victory of Pereira by three goals in Chile. Also, you have to change the image.
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