Martín Demichelis and Diego Martínez Set to Clash Again in League Cup Final

Martín Demichelis and Diego Martínez, face to face again

It will be an early final, there are no doubts. Although many speculated about a possible League Cup final between River Plate and Boca Juniors, the crossing was precipitated by the results that were recorded in the regular phase areas on the last day. El Millonario finished as leader after the victory against Instituto de Córdoba, while Xeneize climbed into fourth place in their group. Now they will meet, on a neutral field, this Sunday at the Mario Alberto Kempes stadium.

On both sides there are certainties and doubts at this point in the week. Martín Demichelis has two players in doubt due to physical discomfort and is evaluating which eleven to field on the field against his longtime rival. These are the cases of Paulo Díaz, who started in the last duel against Gloria, and Miguel Borja, who was not considered for the clash against the Cordoba team. Both have been training differently: the Chilean has an ailment in his right knee, while the Colombian suffers from a strong contracture in his right hamstring.

It is worth remembering that Paulo Díaz (replaced at halftime of the last match by Daniel Zabala) formed a central duo with Leandro González Pirez in the Superclásico on Date 7 that ended 1-1 at the Monumental, while Borja had entered in the final minutes. The millionaire strategist leaned towards an attack composed of Pablo Solari and Facundo Colidio, author of a hattrick, in the 3-1 win against Instituto last Monday. What will you decide now?

There is only one difference between the 11 that Demichelis stopped against Boca in Núñez and the one he implemented against Instituto: in the derby he included Esequiel Barco and in Córdoba Aliendro. Borja, who was also in trouble at that time, arrived with just enough and was barely able to add 25 minutes. The coach will take more hours to define the formation, but the probable one for River is with Franco Armani; Marcelo Herrera, Leandro González Pirez, Paulo Díaz, Enzo Díaz; Ignacio Fernández, Rodrigo Villagra, Rodrigo Aliendro, Claudio Echeverri; Pablo Solari and Facundo Colidio.

Will Jabes Saralegui be a starter again at Boca? (EFE/Juan Ignacio Roncoroni)

Diego Martínez is certain of the return of Lautaro Blanco, who served a suspension date for the expulsion against Estudiantes in La Plata, in place of Marcelo Saracchi. But, at the same time, he maintains a mystery: who will be the replacement for Cristian Medina, who saw red in the last victory against Godoy Cruz in the Bombonera. There are plenty of candidates, although the first thing the coaching staff will have to resolve is what scheme they will use in Córdoba.

The ten permanent ones in Boca, if there are no imponderables, are: Sergio Romero; Luis Advíncula, Cristian Lema, Marcos Rojo, Lautaro Blanco; Pol Fernández, Equi Fernández, Kevin Zenón; Miguel Merentiel and Edinson Cavani. The two main options to replace Medina are the youth Jabes Saralegui, who fulfilled an acceptable task as a starter in the Superclásico on the seventh day, and Nicolás Figal, with whom the team structure would be modified a little.

If Zorro is a starter, he could act as a libero to give depth in the lanes to Advíncula and Blanco, who hurt River a lot with his climbs from the left in the Monumental. But Figal can also be used as a right back, in which case the Peruvian would be promoted to the midfield sector and form a sort of 4-4-2. Will there be room for any surprises? In principle, Merentiel will win the fight against Luca Langoni and the rest will be almost by decantation.

2024-04-18 16:52:48
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