2023-09-26 17:01:00
Jorge Almirón already has an eleven in his head to face Palmeiras
The moment of truth is approaching and Jorge Almirón carries out the last rehearsals at Boca Juniors before facing one of the most important games of the year. With Sunday’s Superclásico in the middle, his team will face the Copa Libertadores semifinal series against Palmeiras. Looking ahead to the first leg that will be played this Thursday at the Bombonera (it will start at 9:30 p.m. and will be refereed by the Colombian Wilmar Roldán), the blue and gold coach tested an eleven that had a striking absence.
Valentín Barco did not put on the starting jersey in the training session planned by the coaching staff and would start between the relays against the Brazilians. It must be clarified that Colo has just started in the League Cup clash against Lanús, in which he was substituted at halftime. Although he did not register new discomfort from the grade 1/2 injury in his left iliac psoas that kept him on the sidelines of the Libertadores quarterfinal rematch against Racing, they decided to take him little by little.
Almirón had expressed about the determination to replace both Barco and Lucas Janson: “They left as a precaution. Janson had a knock and I preferred to take him out right away and Barco finished well, he arrives with rhythm for Thursday. “They all finished well physically and are fit to play on Thursday.”
The coach, at the same time, stated: “The changes are also thought about. Some guys didn’t play last game either and we needed to add minutes. The team from the last game did not add as much today. It was about dosing a little, distributing that effort. Now yes, we have an important game on Thursday. There are four matches in 13 days and for us it was a certain risk, but I had to decide to put some who had not been playing or who did so with Defensa y Justicia. Reaching this important stage without the rhythm of the game was quite complex. I was able to take care of several of those who I think are going to play. “Every duel is valuable and today was a tough one.”
Valentín Barco could be a substitute in the first leg against Palmeiras (REUTERS/Agustin Marcarian)
According to what was arranged by the coach this morning at the Boca Training Center, the eleven to face the match against Palmeiras will be with: Sergio Romero; Lucas Blondel, Nicolás Figal, Marcos Rojo, Frank Fabra; Pol Fernández, Equi Fernández, Cristian Medina; Luis Advíncula, Edinson Cavani and Lucas Janson. We must not fail to mention that on the eve of the duel against Lanús, Almirón had tested a team with Advíncula among the starters and then changed that surname to Janson at the last minute.
Yesterday, Juan Román Riquelme had evaluated the latest performances of the talented 19-year-old left-hander: “The same thing happens to him as Medina, Varela. They start off great, then they have bad games and they will have good ones. Until I find stability. The same thing happens to Zeballos and Barco is the same. You have to be patient. We are not in a hurry either.” Meanwhile, the Boca vice president expanded: “They are close and have the hope of reaching the final. We have three games left. If we do things well, we have many things to win.”
In an interview with El Canal de Boca, Barco himself had referred to the hopes of lifting the Libertadores: “We know what it generates, the excitement of all the people. We are just like the fans. We are going to try to win everything that is left. These are three games that we have to win. We are all very focused and confident in ourselves. Obviously you think that you are three games away from being champion of America. We are so close. It would be beautiful to remain in the history of this club.”
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