Alarm in Boca: Valentín Barco’s injury was confirmed

In the absence of a medical report, it was learned that “Colo”‘s injury is a tear, which a priori would leave him out of action for between 2 and 3 weeks. However, is not yet ruled out for the duel against Racing.

Boca vs Racing: first leg

Boca Juniors and Racing Club drew 0-0 in the first leg of the Conmebol Libertadores quarterfinals and left the series open for the rematch to be played next Wednesday in Avellaneda.

In an emotional encounter, the locals dominated the game and created the best situations, but they couldn’t with the safety of goalkeeper Gabriel Arias, one of the figures in the tie.

Boca, especially in the first half, dominated the game but lacked precision when defining.

Those directed by Fernando Gago were unknown in the first 45 minutes and in the final part, with a different attitude, they matched the actions.

However, without making any merits at the end of the game, Maximiliano Romero found himself alone before Boca’s goalkeeper, Sergio Romero, after a great pass from Jonathan Gomez, from an acceptable game, but he headed into the hands of the Boca goalkeeper.

In the premises, the youthful Nicolás Valentini stood out in defense, Cristian Medina and Ezequiel Fernández in the middle and Edinson Cavani in offense, along with the later injured Valentín Barco.

The Uruguayan attacker did not show signs of being injured and his offensive contribution added sacrifice and team spirit.

In the first half, Boca was superior and should have gone ahead if they had made some of the opportunities they had.

With game and attitude he dominated an opponent who could never stomp in the middle, had defensive difficulties and did not create any risky arrival at the goal guarded by Sergio Romero

Before the match, when the mystery of the line-up that coach Jorge Almirón would put on the field ended, many were surprised because at home and with the need to win he arranged a line of 5, with 4 midfielders in front and only Edinson Cavani as a forward.

However, in the first twenty minutes Boca was an offensive barrage where Frank Fabra and Barco, on one side, and Medina and Luis Advíncula on the other, who thought more about the front goal than their own.

While Racing could not get out of the pressure, the lack of creation of its midfielders added to the defensive confusion.

After 3 minutes, Barco hurried to launch a corner kick that Cavani converted into a goal well disallowed by referee Wilton Sampaio because at the time the youth player threw the ball there was another ball inside the field.

Later, at 9′ another precise cross from the flying “Colorado” was headed by Cavani and Arias sent it to the corner with a great save.

Boca was more and Racing a “shadow”, at 13 another shot-center from Barco almost got Arias into the left corner of his fence.

However, after 21 minutes and with everything controlled by the locals, Marcos Rojo jumped next to Romero and gave him an unnecessary elbow in the face next to the judge, who, as the tribune would say, “wristled” the situation and only took the card. yellow to the captain “xeneize”.

Then came three clear opportunities that had Fabra and his overflows as the protagonist. In one Nicolás Oroz took it out almost on the line and the other was rejected by Leonardo Sigali when he entered the goal.

In the complement, Racing, without ideas, went out to fight the game more, but Boca was still the one with the best arrivals.

After 3 minutes, Barco’s departure with an injury took away depth from his team and the actions began to even out.

Agustín Almendra, who came on for Oroz, finished off from afar after 31 minutes, his team’s first shot on goal of the match.

The midfielder was insulted by the local fans and whistled every time he touched the ball.

The end found Boca in full attack with four forwards and Racing waiting for the end with a tie that opens up greater expectations in the rematch. A free kick from Colombian Juan Fernando Quintero at the end bounced off the wall.

When do Boca and Racing play the rematch?

Wednesday in Avellaneda will be the second chapter and it remains to be seen if the protagonists are the same, but surely the attitude will be different. Racing, being local, will have the obligation to go find the difference and Boca will try to find spaces to qualify for the semifinals.

The one who passes will play in the quarterfinals against the winner of the round of 16 series between Deportivo Pereira and Palmeiras from Brazil, who tonight seemed to define it in their favor with the 4-0 win they achieved in Colombia (their rematch will be on Wednesday next in São Paulo) with goals from Raphael Veiga, from a penalty, Marcos Rocha and Mayke before 35 minutes into the first half, and Rony after 37 minutes into the second period..

Before the rematch in the Cilindro de Avellaneda, Boca will go as a visitor to Junín to face Sarmiento next Sunday at 5:00 p.m., for the second date of group B of the League Cup and in the same area the “Academy” will receive to Tigre on Saturday from 7:30 p.m.