Unexpected injuries sideline Paredes and two other starters for Boca ahead of Recoleta clash

Boca Juniors faces an unexpected challenge ahead of their Copa Sudamericana series decider against Sportivo Recoleta. A 1-1 draw against Platense not only hindered their progress in the league standings, failing to place them in the top eight of Group A or secure a Copa Libertadores spot, but also resulted in significant injuries to three starting players.

Leandro Paredes, Leandro Lozano, and Marco Pellegrino all sustained physical complaints during the match and will not travel to Paraguay for the crucial Tuesday fixture. They will remain in Buenos Aires to begin their recovery. This leaves Boca with a difficult task as they aim to defend their 3-1 first-leg advantage and advance to the quarterfinals of the Copa Sudamericana.

The most significant loss is captain Leandro Paredes, who has had minimal rest since participating in the World Cup. He has played seven matches in just 23 days, completing 90 minutes in five of them. His departure from the Platense match at halftime, replaced by Miguel Merentiel, the equalizer scorer, highlights his importance to the team. The club has not yet released official medical reports, but all three players are dealing with muscle problems. In the best-case scenario, one might be available for the next league match against Racing.

Paredes himself expressed his determination on social media, stating, "Now it's time to rest, recover, and come back stronger than before," accompanied by blue and yellow hearts and a bicep emoji. Pellegrino's injury also cuts short his opportunity to compete for a starting spot, as he felt a twinge in his left thigh and was substituted at halftime. With Paredes out, Milton Delgado is the likely replacement in central midfield, with coach Rodolfo Arruabarrena potentially adding another midfielder to bolster the team's defensive capabilities for the upcoming match.