Boca Focuses Only on São Paulo as Arruabarrena Regains Two Key Players and Waits on Another

Boca Juniors have already left their disappointing draw with Gimnasia de Mendoza behind. Coach Rodolfo Arruabarrena is planning for Tuesday’s Copa Sudamericana match against São Paulo at La Bombonera, with the club’s attention fixed on its major objective for the second half of the year.

Boca allowed several regulars to rest against the Mendoza side. Santiago Ascacibar travelled but did not make the bench after running a fever and finishing exhausted against Vélez. Leandro Paredes was named among the substitutes only out of necessity and did not play. Arruabarrena said Paredes was training well and recovering properly, but needed to be handled carefully after a long run of matches.

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In a few days we have an important match. The time is getting shorter and the matches are becoming more important. In that sense, stay calm because the team will be there.

Milton Delgado stayed home while recovering from a tear in his left hamstring. The coach said the medical staff would assess him and that Boca was targeting the second match of the series for his return. Tomás Belmonte could continue in his place after playing 78 minutes on Saturday.

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The Russian had a few lines of fever. He has played many matches. He finished quite exhausted against Vélez and, logically, was not fit to take part in the match or sit on the bench.

Arruabarrena also used the match to manage other players. Lautaro Blanco came on in the 22nd minute for Matías Satas, while Lautaro Di Lollo entered in the 33rd minute for Kevin Zenón to strengthen the defence. Marco Pellegrino was replaced at the same time by Facundo Jagger Herrera, a possible indication that Pellegrino will start on Tuesday because Ayrton Costa is injured.

Leandro Lozano did not play and was not included among the substitutes because of an ongoing disciplinary dispute with Vélez. Arruabarrena urged calm after the draw, saying, "In a few days we have an important match. The time is getting shorter and the matches are becoming more important. In that sense, stay calm because the team will be there."

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He went on the bench out of necessity, but he is recovering well and training well. Otherwise, I would not have taken him to the bench.