In Córdoba, Boca Juniors rescued a 2-2 draw against Group A leaders Instituto after falling behind twice, but the journey home carried far more concern than satisfaction. Leandro Paredes lasted only minutes after being introduced in the second half, leaving with discomfort in his right hamstring at a decisive point in Boca’s season.
Key takeaways
- Paredes is ruled out of Tuesday’s Copa Sudamericana semi-final against Vasco da Gama at La Bombonera.
- The midfielder is also highly unlikely to travel for the return leg in Brazil and faces a race to be ready for River Plate in 23 days.
- Instituto remain first in Group A on 26 points, with Boca on 21 and still well placed for the Clausura play-offs.
- Fernando Alarcón and Jonatan Galván scored from set pieces for the Córdoba side.
- Enner Valencia and Miguel Merentiel struck for Boca, the latter finishing a flowing multi-pass move.
A costly comeback in Córdoba
Rodolfo Arruabarrena had rotated heavily for the trip, holding back six regular starters with the continental tie against Vasco and the Superclásico against River approaching. Yet Boca were forced to turn to two of those established players, Paredes and Merentiel, when they trailed 2-1 after the interval.
The decision delivered an immediate setback. Paredes felt an issue in the right hamstring and requested to come off shortly after entering. It is the same area in which he previously suffered a tear that nearly kept him out of the World Cup.
His absence removes a central figure from Boca’s midfield for the first semi-final on Tuesday. The prospect of featuring in Brazil is remote, while the league meeting with River, scheduled 23 days away, has become another fitness deadline for the captain whose influence extends beyond his passing: he sets Boca’s rhythm and carries much of the side’s pressure in major matches.
Set-piece frailty leaves Boca chasing
Boca had to recover twice because of defensive problems at dead-ball situations. Instituto took advantage through Alarcón and then Galván, preserving their authority at the summit of Group A.
The second Instituto goal also provoked strong anger among the visitors. Boca believed Marco Pellegrino had been fouled in the build-up, but the referee did not penalise the incident.
Valencia brought Boca level for the first time when a scrambled sequence fell his way, before Merentiel completed the response with the match’s cleanest attacking passage, applying the finish after a sweeping move built through several touches.
The draw should leave Boca’s Clausura play-off place secure, but it has a sharper consequence in the annual standings. A victory would have taken Arruabarrena’s team past Independiente Rivadavia into first place. Instead, two dropped points and the loss of Paredes have changed the mood before Boca’s defining fixtures across Argentina and South America.
