Boca drew 2-2 with Instituto in Córdoba, yet the looming worry centered on Leandro Paredes, forced off in the second half with a physical complaint. After the clash at Mario Alberto Kempes, Rodolfo Arruabarrena admitted the midfielder may miss the first leg of the Copa Sudamericana against Vasco da Gama on Tuesday, October 13 at La Bombonera. Could Boca survive without their captain?
Rodolfo Arruabarrena doubts Leandro Paredes will feature against Vasco da Gama
During the post‑match press conference, Rodolfo Arruabarrena confirmed Leandro Paredes suffered an injury and said medical scans will decide its seriousness.
“Unfortunately, Leandro is injured. Tests are needed, but judging by his face when he left, I doubt he’ll be ready for Tuesday”, the Boca coach said.
The alarm sounded when the midfielder limped off in the second period, shouting “He pulled me”, a remark that instantly raised concerns about his condition.
Facing the chance of losing his captain for the international fixture, Arruabarrena named Alarcón and Delgado as possible midfield replacements.
“We have a backup for Paredes. Obviously he’s our captain and his influence is felt on and off the pitch. Alarcón and Delgado have performed well; I think we can field a solid midfield. Tuesday will prove it on the field”, he asserted.
In my view, losing Paredes would cripple Boca’s chances. Will the replacements rise to the occasion?
Beyond Paredes’ setback, the coach evaluated the 2-2 draw with Instituto and felt both sides enjoyed periods of advantage during the game.
He also noted that the Córdoba side troubled Boca with effective set‑piece play. Regarding a disputed foul, he warned that referees are prone to mistakes.
As the Sudamericana semi approaches, the coaching staff will have only a few days to ready the squad for Vasco da Gama and assess Paredes’ fitness.
Now we’ll head to the hotel to rest, return to Buenos Aires and think about that famous Tuesday. We aim to deliver a strong 90 minutes on our ground“, Arruabarrena concluded.