Racing arrived in Rosario by bus on Sunday afternoon to prepare for its Copa Argentina clash against Boca Juniors at the Estadio Gigante de Arroyito. Manager Juan Pablo Vojvoda leads the squad into the knockout fixture with a place in the tournament semifinals on the line, offering a vital path toward silverware and international qualification for 2027.
Arrival in Rosario and Team Reception
Maravilla Martínez emerged as the most sought-after figure, drawing loud ovations from the crowd. Several other squad members—including Cambeses, Marcos Rojo, Matías Zaracho, Ignacio Rodríguez, Ezequiel Cannavo, Gonzalo Escudero, Mateo Martínez, and Lodico—spent over 15 minutes interacting with fans, posing for photographs, and signing jerseys.
The warm reception provided a welcome lift for the squad amid a challenging run of domestic results. Unlike Boca Juniors, which traveled by airplane, Racing made the journey by land, departing from Avellaneda shortly after the afternoon meal.
Squad News and Injury Concerns
The traveling party arrived without Lautaro Díaz, who missed the trip due to a late-breaking muscle injury. Medical evaluations confirmed that Díaz suffered a strain in the rectus anterior and psoas muscles of his left leg, ruling him out of the crucial fixture.
Despite the absence, Racing relies heavily on the scoring form of Maravilla Martínez, who aims to extend his prolific scoring run in the knockout competition.
Vojvoda’s Record in the Copa Argentina
Manager Juan Pablo Vojvoda brings a strong personal track record in the Copa Argentina to Sunday’s match. Across eight career matches in the tournament’s regulation 90 minutes, Vojvoda has never suffered a defeat, recording six wins and two draws.
His only exits from the competition came via penalty shootouts: once in 2018 while managing Talleres against Central, and again in 2019 while in charge of Huracán against Godoy Cruz. Since taking the reins at Racing, Vojvoda has secured two tournament victories, most notably a disciplined 1–0 win over Belgrano.
Match Context and What Lies Ahead
The winner of Sunday’s clash advances to the penultimate stage of the Copa Argentina, maintaining active contention for domestic honors. Kickoff at the Gigante de Arroyito is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. local time.
Readers and supporters are encouraged to share their predictions and thoughts on the fixture in the comments section below.
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