Boca: the reasons that explain the series of victories that put him in the fight for the League

Twenty days ago, at the interval in the middle Bombonera Mouth and Atlético Tucumán, the team of Hugo Ibarra he was 12 points from the top of the tournament. A championship that has had to face transition nuances, with a provisional DT and a replacement process for 2023, no longer a push to the Olympic lap to get a ticket for the next Libertadores Cup. Just twenty days, but with a lot in between: a Superclásico, the injury of his best player (Sebastián Villa) and a continuous rotation in the number of games. The result? Boca is one step away from the top of the tournament. What happened? Some keys that explain this moment.

The bow and the defense. In the prelude to this streak of 5 consecutive victories there was a media conflict over Agustín Rossi’s renewal, in which his representative exposed millionaire figures for a loan extension that was not signed. The arrival of Sergio Romero as a possible substitute and goalkeeper who had to show his personality in order not to lower the level. He did it: with him among the figures, the team managed to overturn an unfavorable scenario in terms of goals conceded. From 8 goals conceded in the first 4 games with Ibarra as manager, he has only scored 3 in the last 8 games. In most cases, the goalkeeper was decisive. And also Advíncula, Figal and Fabra have raised their level, as well as having in Marcos Rojo a reference that extends from defense. And not only that: now negotiations are reopened for the extension of the goalkeeper’s contract.

Pibes who has matured. The huge number of young people that Boca have fostered in recent years are now starting to find them with key maturity. Because Alan Varela (played 65 games at the club) has already taken over the midfield, Cristian Medina, Aaron Molinas (decided to stay at the club instead of emigrating to Portugal) and Agustín Sández are spare parts when needed. And before the loss of Exequiel Zeballos. Luca Langoni entered strongly, scoring three goals and giving Boca 6 points against Atlético Tucumán and Colón. Not only that: the boy Maxi Salazar (the 19th boy to debut in this administration) also made his debut and Brandon Cortés, another character of the Reserve, had a clue. Given the injuries and the victims, the boys of Boca Predio are also advanced compared to other surnames on tour.

Benedict is back. It has been a complex month for the scorer, who seemed stuck in the second leg against Corinthians for the Copa Libertadores in which he missed two penalties. After that, everything got worse: internal noise due to the prize fight and a feint of non-concentration, declarations that did not go well in the locker room, another missed penalty against Talleres, fist fight with Carlos Zambrano, two appointments out for suspension and ten days without conversion . How did you break up with that? With the header against the River, in La Bombonera, Superclásico wins. With the spell resolved, he also scored the winning goal against Lanús, per hour. With two goals, he gave Boca 6 points to grow in the standings and in confidence. It’s true: his level was appropriate given the decline in Luis Vázquez’s performance, even if the boy with the goal of the hour against Defense and Justice also collaborated in this winning streak.

Bombonera effect. In this tournament Boca scored 6 falls and two were at home (both with Sebastián Battaglia still as coach) but things have changed since Ibarra’s arrival. In Brandsen 805 he won 5 wins and a draw, scored only 3 goals and also got rid of heavy rivals like Estudiantes, Atlético Tucumán and River. An added value that he has been able to capitalize much more from the emotional than from football, where he is still in debt. But even in adverse scenarios, the drive to play at home gave him an advantage. It’s true: Boca have also been able to exploit how rivals fighting for the title have wasted opportunities to escape when they were faltering and now Ibarra’s men have served all they could. The defeats at the trot at Bajo Flores, La Paternal and Paraná have never been repeated since that attitude at La Bombonera.

Will this be enough? In the intimacy of the club they are cautious (even Ibarra was honest when he said that Boca was not a candidate for him) because they understand that between penalties, injuries and the inevitable fatigue of what will be a calendar that will have a double date during the week of October and now the campus was closed. And the victories, as they came below, were explained much more by the individual than by the collective. What is certain is that the storm left behind (and with it the urgency of looking for a head coach) with a better climate even in the intimacy of the group beyond the barbecues on the property, and it ended in the end. of the tournament, Boca said once again present in the fight. Something he couldn’t afford not to be.