The forms were questioned. Because he came from accessing the final of the Professional League Cup without kicking on goal and taking penalties, that specialty that he has held since the days of Carlos Bianchi. Racing had fallen by the wayside and there was another great player, Corinthians. So, the challenge in the Bombonera was not just about winning; Also, Sebastián Battaglia’s team had to show another face.
And what was seen in the complement, beyond the fact that he played more than half an hour with an extra man, it was a convincing performance that ended with applause. Despite the fact that he did not get the victory he deserved. Even so, the key duel will be on Thursday against Deportivo Cali right here. And it will be necessary to see with how many points the Colombians arrive, who this Thursday will face Always Ready in Palma Seca.
To Boca, however, It cost him at the start. Because he was forced to take center stage and the Brazilians, very compact, did not allow him to flow. The technician will have to evaluate the position of Pol Fernández and Oscar Romero. The two of them move like inside midfielders – as much as Román doesn’t like the term – and sometimes they lose influence in the setup. They collect passes, but they are not deep. They try to be pitchers, especially the Paraguayan, but without spaces their attempts are sterile.
And Alan Varela, the most dapper, in those first minutes was imprisoned before the two central midfielders of Timao. Du Queiroz and Maycon were octopuses. They pressed and recovered. On board a 3-4-3 that became a line of five with Lucas Pitón and Fabio Santos going back. Although, at first, both sides played launched.
In this context, Boca could not develop a good internal game and could not exploit the extremes. Neither Exequiel Zeballos nor Eduardo Salvio. And Corinthians, who did not give references in attack because Jo and Gustavo Silva got lost, deceived the central xeneizes.
It seemed that Boca woke up with an overflow of Changuito. But the Corinthians goal came. Du Queiroz emerged from the middle, opened for Willian and the ball was lost in the corner. The São Paulo cry was produced from the stopped ball executed by the former Chelsea. There was a half rejection and Du Queiroz – yes, the same one who had started the move – resolved with his left foot. The shot, almost a pass to the net, entered asking for permission. Agustín Rossi reacted late. The goalkeeper’s response was very weak.
With the result in your pocket, Corinthians did not change their plan. But since it was grouped and short, it facilitated Boca’s long game. In reality, the blue and gold team had no other choice. And the shipments from the plants began to arrive. And Salvio had two clear possibilities. First, he was an instant away from coming face to face with Cassio, but Raúl Gustavo put in a sensational cross. Later, he received from Zeballos, who won the position from Robson – also after another bochazo – and Toto’s shot went just wide of Fabio Santos’ leg. And Varela grew up.
Boca pushed Corinthians and had its prize in the outcome of the first half. It was from a center by Luis Advíncula that Raúl Gustavo cleared, but left the ball floating. Then came the advance of Carlos Zambrano and the definition of Darío Benedetto, the scorer, with a cross shot.
In the second half, Boca showed greater volume of play. Romero let go and began to unbalance Zeballos. However, the clearest was at the feet of Salvio, who played a wall with Benedetto and ran into the Cassio wall. Later, Frank Fabra and el Changuito combined and the Corinthian goalkeeper covered again.
Vitor Pereira moved the bank, dispensed with a central (Robson) and put together a 4-1-4-1 with a single axis. But his papers burned with the expulsion of Víctor Cantillo, who had also entered a while ago. There was a riot, the Colombian threw a punch and the referee Christian Ferreyra expelled him.
Boca searched for him intensely. He locked him up to his decimated rival. with the Peruvians. With the movements of Benedetto. With the deployment of Varela. With one more contribution from Romero and, above all, from Pol Fernández. However, the final stitch was missing. As in that Oscar center that Salvio headed, alone, next to the post.
The public recognized the effort. This time, nobody will be able to say that he played badly. But he didn’t win. The positive balance is that it depends on itself.
