Teófilo Gutiérrez and Luis Advíncula, one of the duels promised by the meeting on Thursday. Photo: EFE/Ernesto Guzmán Jr.
Once the 72nd “xeneize” star has been placed in the galaxy and still includes the brilliance of the celebrations for the Professional League Cup conquest, Boca should reach a partial goal at times within its main goal of the season: the Copa Libertadores, which implies defending its sporting prestige and will also allow it to get an injection of vital dollars for its economy.
The obsession with “Seventh”that fans have been looking forward to since winning the last Cup in 2007, with a powerful Juan Román Riquelme on the pitch, This is as severe as the need to charge the pass in the final round and multiply the revenue paid by Conmebol.
Argentina’s new soccer champion will receive Deportivo Cali next Thursday on the final date of Group E with the obligation of a victory to be first or second and thus be one of the 16 best teams in the maximum continental tournament.
It was, without further ado, another final like the one played on Sunday with Mario Alberto Kempes, where Sebastián Battaglia’s team made the cut with a 3-0 win over the Tigers.
In the first leg, the Colombians beat Boca 2-0. This Thursday, the rematch. Photo: EFE/Ernesto Guzmán Jr.
After drawing at Corinthians (1-1), last Tuesday at La Bombonera, and Cali’s subsequent victory against Always Ready from Bolivia, Boca is currently in third place in the area with 7 units, one less than the Brazilians and Colombians..
Deportivo Cali, rivals in the final of the second Libertadores won by “Xeneize” in 1978, have already beaten them at home in this edition (2-0) and on Thursday they will seek to eliminate the possibility of qualifying, something no doubts aggravating the sporting and economic present several hours before the conquest of a new local title.
Boca, like any participant on the group stage, pocketed 3.6 million dollars for his six games in that case and, in case you qualify for round 16, a check of 1,050,000 will be immediately guaranteed.
As competition progresses, revenues may increase by 2,000,000 for the quarterfinals; 2,400,000 for the semifinals and 6,000,000 if he gives a gift in the final scheduled in Guayaquil, Ecuador. If he is champion, he will also have a bonus of 10,000,000, which will bring a total income of 25,050,000.
“It’s hard to turn the page but we need to get into another final that we have on Thursday from tomorrow,” Boca captain Carlos Izquierdoz admitted on Sunday, throughout the celebration.
With the famous shout in the background “I like Libertadores …”, the center marker smiled and reflected: “It is so there is no time for anything. And we know that the Cup is the biggest title fans want“.
Boca will return to work this afternoon from 4:00 pm at the Ezeiza venue to begin preparations for the match against the Colombians. The idea is that those who played yesterday are doing regenerative exercises and others are practicing soccer.
Boca is the Professional League champion, but that story doesn’t count with the Libertadores. Photo: Marcelo Carroll
The only injured player is midfielder Diego González, who is recovering from a torn meniscus in his left knee.
The only change was the entry of young Exequiel Zeballos, who played a good game in the 1-1 draw against Corinthians, for suspended Sebastián Villa. For the rest, Battaglia plans to use the same team that won the final against the Tigers.
Villa, recently accused of sexual abuse and with another cause of sexual violence pending oral trial, will serve his final suspension date on Thursday night for incidents against Atlético Mineiro, last years.
This Tuesday, the squad will train again from 9 in Ezeiza and on Wednesday they will train from 10 in the Pedro Pompilio complex and then focus on a hotel in the Monserrat neighborhood.
Season ticket holders can reserve their seats for Thursday’s game on the SoySocio site, free of charge. And this Tuesday the turn of the partners from 2:00 pm on the same platform, also free of charge. On Thursday, it’s time for the following partners.
By Eduardo Martinez, Telam
Source: Clarin