Buenos Aires has placed an unwelcome question over Boca Juniors’ Copa Sudamericana preparations: Leandro Paredes, one of the side’s central figures, left Friday’s match against Instituto de Córdoba with a muscular problem only four days before Vasco da Gama are due at La Bombonera for the first leg of their semi-final.
The news from the club
Paredes began Boca’s Torneo Clausura meeting with Instituto among the substitutes, as coach Rodolfo Arruabarrena protected roughly half of his usual starting line-up ahead of Tuesday’s continental tie.
The Argentina midfielder entered in the 55th minute, replacing Delgado, but his evening lasted only 15 minutes. After appearing to feel a muscle issue, the 2022 World Cup winner asked to come off and was replaced by Santiago Ascacíbar in the 70th minute.
His condition now becomes a significant concern for Boca before the visit of Vasco, with the first semi-final leg scheduled for Tuesday in the Argentine capital.
Boca and Instituto met in the 13th round of the Clausura, with both clubs contesting the lead in Group A. The match stood at 2-2 while the game was still in progress.
