Boca Juniors, reigning Professional Soccer League champions, make their debut this Sunday as the home of Atlético Tucumán in the new season of Argentine football that began after the consecration of the Argentina national team at the World Cup in Qatar.
The first round match is played from 9:30 pm with refereeing by Jorge Baliño and ESPN Premium television.
Boca will return to the Bombonera 98 days after their consecration in the previous tournament, which took place with a draw against Independiente (2-2) and a great favor from River, in Marcelo Gallardo’s last official match, beating Racing Club in Avellaneda.
Since the conquest of that star, number 73 in its history, Hugo Ibarra’s team has lost two official cups against “The Academy”: the Champions Trophy in San Luis in November 2022 and the recent International Super Cup in the United Arab Emirates, the Last Friday, January 20.
The defeat in San Luis ended with a scandal for the gestures of Carlos Alcaraz in the decisive goal (2-1) and the controversial refereeing of Rodrigo Tello, who sent off seven “Xeneizes” players.
That barrage of cards made it difficult for Ibarra to form the squad at the start of the campaign, but a saving amnesty from the AFA has benefited all clubs, especially Boca due to the number of suspensions they have received.
The management of Argentine football has approved that the “light penalties” be considered satisfied, those fewer than three dates, which allowed five players to make their debut for Atlético.
Only the striker Darío Benedetto, sanctioned with 4 games, and the defender Frank Fabra, who has to pay with 3 games, were excluded from this criterion. The others (Luis Advíncula, Alan Varela, Guillermo “Pol” Fernández, Sebastián Villa and Diego González) will be at the coach’s disposal.
Boca and the “Dean” played La Bombonera on August 28, a game that “Xeneize” won 2-1, recorded in the final sprint to the title. That night the Tucumans ended up upset with an arbitration that had Baliño in charge of VAR and did not penalize an alleged penalty by Carlos Zambrano against Ignacio Maestro Puch.
The Atlético coach, Lucas Pusineri, avoided opinions on the appointment of the referee, even on the grace of the penalties and concentrated on being able to start the tournament with a good result on the Boca pitch, reduced in which Atlético won 3 of the 10 times you’ve visited.
Among the additions to the starting line-up, Boca will have the presence of former Argentina international goalkeeper Sergio Romero, who has played just 45 minutes in a friendly since his arrival at the club.
The Brazil 2014 runner-up world champion last officially played for Venezia in an Italian Serie A match against Sassuolo on March 6 last year.
‘Chiquito’ Romero, 35, won against Javier García in Boca’s goal dispute following the recent departure of Agustín Rossi to Al Nassr club in Saudi Arabia.
There will also be the first of Paraguayan central scorer Bruno Valdez, inserted in this transfer market to replace Zambrano.
= Probable formations =
Boca Juniors: Sergio Romero; Marcelo Weigandt, Bruno Valdez, Nicolás Figal and Agustín Sández; Guillermo “Pol” Fernández, Alan Varela and Juan Ramírez; Oscar Romero; Sebastian Villa and Nicolas Orsini. DT: Hugo Ibarra.
Atlético Tucmán: Tomás Marchiori: Hernán De La Fuente, Bruno Bianchi, Yonathan Cabral, Matías Orihuela; Renzo Tesuri, Guillermo Acosta, Joaquín Pereyra, Ramiro Ruiz Rodríguez; Mateo Coronel and Marcelo Estigarribia. DT: Lucas Pusineri.
Referee: Jorge Baliño VAR: Ariel Penel Stadium: Boca Juniors.
Starting time: 21:30
Television: ESPN Premium.
Source: Clarin
Jason Root is the go-to source for sports coverage at News Rebeat. With a passion for athletics and an in-depth knowledge of the latest sports trends, Jason provides comprehensive and engaging analysis of the world of sports.