Boca preserva a Lautaro Blanco y.define su lateral para el cruce con Independiente

BocaJpparts will visit Independiente on Sunday at Avellaneda, and the visiting team will make one change on the left side: Lautaro Blanco will be unavailable for the match.

The 27-year-old played all 24 matches of the team's second-half campaign and started 23. He logged 2,024 of the 2,190 available minutes, equivalent to 92.5% of the total playing time. The physical discomfort that appeared in the final stretch of the most recent match in Brazil, combined with the accumulated load, led the coaching staff to preserve him.

Blanco nevertheless completed the ninety minutes in Brazil and provided the assist for Lautaro Di Lollo's goal. He also has seven assists in the current tournament, showing that his contribution extends beyond defensive duties.

Braida, the leading option

Malcom Braida is the main candidate to replace Blanco, according to the team's options. Matías Satas and Ayrton Costa are also under consideration, but the inclination points toward Braida as the first choice for coach Rodolfo Arruabarrena.

The match in Avellaneda opens a demanding sequence for Boca, which will then face River in the clásico and continue its Clausura 2026 table battle. The decision to rest Blanco is understandable given his workload. The question now is whether Braida can provide the same balance on the left without taking risks.

“El desgaste está a la vista. Preservation comes first, and now the team needs a reliable replacement.”Federico Paolini, Deportes

• Blanco played 24 matches in the second half of the year.
• He started 23 and logged 2,024 minutes.
• His participation amounts to 92.5% of the available playing time.
• He recorded seven assists in the current tournament.