After the victory against Racing, Boca arrives strengthened in the Superclásico but first has a risk scale in Santiago

The victory against Racing changed the energy. Boca feels powerful today in the preview of two games that will set the course for this first half. Colo Colo is coming, on Wednesday in Santiago de Chile, and River, no less, on Sunday at the Monumental. Two heavy rivals, both as guests.

However, Arrives strengthened under the mental and football aspect. And their coach, Jorge Almirón, has managed to earn the respect of the fans. From an uncertain start to this streak of three matches with two wins (Pereira and Racing) and a draw (Rosario Central in Arroyito) there has been a substantial change: in the pressure, in the tactical order and in a success that has dealing with Luis Advíncula’s position as a winger. In addition, of course, to the inclusion of Valentín Barco, the jewel of the inferiors, in the absence of Frank Fabra, who is recovering from an injury.

Almirón will face both matches with the best he has. Nothing will be saved because the opponents deserve it. The duel against the Chileans is essential to direct the qualification to the round of 16. Finishing Wednesday with 7 points leaves him in a good position for that continental target. There is a fixed appointment in the team: Martín Payero. The midfielder will start, especially bearing in mind that he will not be able to be in the Superclásico due to his expulsion against Racing. Barco would play against Colo Colo. Fabra could come back against River. The coach will ask for the Colombian, who suffered a sprained right knee on 10 April. Their property will depend on evolution.

Another of the doubts that the coach must clarify is what position Advíncula will occupy. The Peruvian was the most important as a winger, an unusual position, but one that he has known since his debut at Sporting Cristal. Or will Norberto Briasco return, who missed the last two games with a muscle injury? Like Fabra, it will be evaluated. Miguel Merentiel, meanwhile, asks for a clue. Facing the academy, he replaced Luis Vázquez and ended up scoring the goal that defined the classic.

The theme of “9” is fundamental thinking about Colo Colo, but also about River. Darío Benedetto suffered a tear in his right hamstring and although he is working a lot on kinesiology, he won’t make it to the classics. Not even Exequiel Zeballos.

And who will replace Payero in Núñez? With Juan Ramírez ruled out with a torn left hamstring, today there are three names for one job: Oscar Romero, Equi Fernández or Cristian Medina. They all have different characteristics from the former Banfield midfielder. When the Paraguayan played, the midfield didn’t work pol Fernández and Alan Varela, two untouchables. Young people would give him more dynamics and recovery. The presence of both will depend on the strategic plan. First, of course, you have to get over the ladder on the other side of the Cordillera.

The most positive news of the beginning of the week concerns the recovery of Luca Langoni. The attacker had suffered a tear in the hamstring of his right leg. This Monday he worked together with the rest of the team and will travel to Chile together with the delegation. Another who has already joined the group is Marcos Rojo. The centre-back and blue-and-gold captain is in the final stages of recovery from a ligament tear in his right knee which he has suffered since October. He is a key man and will be a great reinforcement for the end of the first stage of the year. Juan Román Riquelme has already said so: “I hope he recovers well and comes back soon, they are players who make their teammate feel better.”

The idol vice president didn’t want to talk about the Superclásico. “The most difficult match we have at the moment is in Chile, then we will think about what comes next. We will go to a big stadium, where it will certainly be a good match, where we will try to enjoy ourselves and compete to the maximum”. We hope the players from them, ours and the judges will have fun. Let’s hope we can win,” he said in a very politically correct way.

Later, of course, The river will come. With an advantage when managing the former down payment: his streak in one on one with Marcelo Gallardo. Now Martín Demichelis will be on the bench. Will he continue on the same path of success?