Buenos Aires will host the first leg, Rio de Janeiro the return, but Boca Juniors will travel to Brazil for the Copa Sudamericana semi-final without Leandro Paredes after the midfielder suffered a left-hamstring injury.
Paredes ruled out of both semi-final ties
Medical tests on Saturday confirmed a grade-two injury to the hamstring in Paredes’ left thigh. The problem will keep the Boca regular out of both meetings with Vasco da Gama, removing one of Rodolfo Arruabarrena’s most important midfield options for the continental tie.
- Paredes injured the back of his left thigh.
- The diagnosis was a grade-two hamstring tear.
- He will miss Boca’s two Copa Sudamericana semi-final matches against Vasco.
- The sides will meet on the next two Tuesdays, with each kick-off set for 21:30 Brasília time.
A short night in Córdoba
The Argentina international had been managed carefully in Boca’s 2-2 Argentine league draw away to Instituto on Friday. Arruabarrena initially left him on the bench, then introduced him 10 minutes into the second half in place of Milton Delgado.
His involvement lasted only 15 minutes. Paredes quickly felt the muscle issue and had to be withdrawn, forcing Boca’s coach to bring another established midfielder, Santiago Ascacíbar, into the contest.
That draw in Córdoba extended Boca’s unbeaten run to 17 matches, although the injury has cast a shadow over preparations for a demanding cross-border knockout week.
Maracanã return for Vasco
The opening semi-final will be played at La Bombonera in Buenos Aires before the return encounter in Rio de Janeiro. Vasco have been cleared to face Boca at the Maracanã for the second leg.
Before their continental journey begins, Vasco remain focused on domestic duties. They host Remo on Saturday at 18:00 Brasília time in the 30th round of the Brazilian Championship.
