The countdown to another new edition of the Superclásico is inevitable. And although Diego Martínez declared after the defeat with Lanús that he would only now begin to focus on the next rival, the truth is that In the Boca world and the River world this match begins to be played from the very moment the fixture is confirmed. In this sense, there are five questions that the xeneize coach must resolve during this week, before embarking on the trip to Núñez.
What will be the proposal?
Yes ok It is difficult to imagine what Diego Martínez will do at the Monumental, there are at least three scenarios. In line with his intention for his teams to be protagonists, he could well bet on attacking River, taking the ball away and imposing their game. In this sense, both 4-4-2 and 4-3-1-2 are the tactical drawings that you could usealthough in both cases It is presumed that the creative responsibility will fall to Kevin Zenón, the reinforcement that gave new life to the blue and gold midfield. However, it would be a mistake to repeat something that became evident in the defeat against Lanús: that everything depends on the former Unión midfielder, and that he does not have partners with whom to interact. Thus, Demichelis would neutralize the rival just by blocking Zenón’s circuit with his companions.
The remaining scenario is the meanest, which Boca has already used on other occasions against its eternal rival: line of 5 and a much more expectant attitude. Giving up the ball and the leading role, and acting based on what happens as the minutes pass. Something like this was seen in Núñez in May of last year, when Almirón opted for 5-3-2. River managed the times as they pleased, and won possession 60%-40%, shots on goal (16 to 5) and corners (8 to 0), in addition to celebrating almost on the hour with a penalty that the VAR sanctioned due to alleged contact between Sandez and Solari in the area and that Borja converted.
Will Marcos Rojo play?
Martínez has a strong experience card in his deck, one of those that is very important for this type of encounter. Marcos Rojowho suffered a tear in his left calf while warming up before facing Gimnasia y Tiro in Salta during a summer friendly, is ready to return. The defender has not yet had minutes in the new cycle and during the week he will work fully for the first time in 40 days.
In this regard, the coach explained why he did not play against Lanús: “Marcos is training almost normally. He felt very well and is in the final stage of recovery. Surely this week he will do it on par with his teammates, but we understood with the medical staff that perhaps it was not the best for him to be in for this game. That’s why he took the opportunity to train, to increase the load and push himself, and he did very well. Surely this week he will return to work normally”.
Besides, It is evident that Martínez preserved Lautaro Blanco against Lanús, precisely so that he does not run the risk of suffering any injury and is in optimal condition for next Sunday. And although the version that Frank Fabra could be the surprising return to the starting team precisely for the Superclásico flies over (he left La Fortaleza hugged by Riquelme), almost all the numbers are held by the former Rosario Central winger.
The Cavani factor
Another strong card that Xeneize has is Edinson Cavani. The Uruguayan striker missed three games due to a contracture that he suffered in the 1-1 draw against Sarmiento and against Lanús he returned to action, precisely to gain rhythm before the Superclásico.
However, The scorer knows that he is indebted to his mission on the playing field, which is precisely to score. His last celebration was on October 16, when he scored from a penalty in the quarterfinal match of the Argentine Cup against Talleres de Córdoba. That was the third goal since he arrived at Boca, after celebrating against Platense (2023 League Cup) and Palmeiras (semifinals of the Copa Libertadores).
Cavani has not been able to put the ball into the opponent’s goal for 466 minutes. Against Granate he missed with a header one of those plays that, at least from the stands, seem easier to end in a goal. At the same time there is a psychological element that motivates Could there be anything better than breaking the losing streak by scoring against River and contributing to a Boca victory at the Monumental? It will be seen if the Uruguayan has another opportunity from the start.
How to counteract River’s offensive voracity?
Until now, River scored twice as many goals as Boca. The equation is 12 to 6. In fact, Borja, the tournament’s top scorer and in doubt for Sunday due to an injury, scored the same number of goals as the entire Xeneize team.
But beyond that, It is evident that Demichelis’ team attacks more and better than those led by Martínez. Against Banfield he generated 26 shots on goal and only the extraordinary performance of Marcelo Barovero prevented him from winning comfortably.
How can Boca do to counteract that virtue of the Millionaire? What happens in the midfield will be essential. If Boca does not manage to cut off the rival circuits in that area, the task of its defense will be complex. With the ingredient that there is still no solidity between Figal and Lema at the back. What if Rojo returns or Valentini reappears? There the five-piece scenario in the last line will gain strength, with the possibility of the full-backs projecting themselves and collaborating in the midfield pressure.
How much credit does Martínez play on Sunday?
Perhaps it is the harshest and most delicate issue to deal with. Although It sounds ridiculous to propose a scenario in which Diego Martínez’s future is in doubt if he suffers a misstep at the Monumental, In the frenetic context that exists in Argentine football, nothing can be ruled out.
The only certain thing is that Boca will go out to play against River with just 9 points out of a possible 18, a consequence of having won two games (Tigre and Central Córdoba), tied three (Platense, Sarmiento and Defensa y Justicia) and lost this Sunday against Lanús (1-2), which places it seventh in Zone B out of 14 participants. There is one fact that reveals the xeneize instability: four of the rivals they have already faced are below them in the table.
At the same time, Martínez is presented with a great opportunity to strengthen himself if Boca wins in Núñez. Above all, because in recent years the Monumental was not fertile ground for Xeneize (two defeats, a draw and a win since 2018), and the addition that in 2023 Demichelis’ team won the two crosses he led Almiron.
The concrete thing is that Next Sunday will be a pivotal match for Martínez, since unlike his predecessor, he faces this season without the armor that participation in the Copa Libertadores usually gives Boca coaches. In this case, without activity in the most important competition in South America at the club level, credit is more limited. Added to the fact that his back is not so wide in the Boca world, despite having the endorsement of president Juan Román Riquelme. That is why it will be important to emerge victorious from the Superclásico.
Themes
Other news from Superclásico
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/lanacionar/2J3IZMTG2JEYRKVBRTRT4TCSYA.JPG)
Debutante. The one chosen to direct the River-Boca on Sunday and all the referees of the classics date
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/lanacionar/ADXI67WACZHHNNASRCNLBFZK6Q.JPG)
Different realities. How River and Boca arrive at the 2024 League Cup Superclásico
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/lanacionar/PB72BP5U4VCWRJP74GMMV55QSU.JPG)