One week before the debut in the League Cup against Platense in Vicente López, Boca beat 2-1 Workshops in Córdoba and the positive for the coach Diego Martinez It was not the victory, but the good sensations that the preseason left him, with players who raised their level and with an attractive idea that is beginning to take shape.
If the preseason friendlies are to draw conclusions, Diego Martínez will have at the top of the list of those approved Marcelo Saracchi already Ezekiel Bullaude. Because the Uruguayan and the midfielder had played well against Gimnasia and Tiro de Salta and they did it again in Córdoba, against the starters of Talleres, a team that is preparing to compete in the Copa Libertadores.
Martínez surprised many by leaning towards Saracchi over Frank Fabra, the Colombian who was targeted by the fans after his expulsion in the Libertadores final against Fluminense at the Maracana. The former left back of River had not shown great things in his first months at Xeneize, but the arrival of Martínez renewed him.
The best thing about the left-hander is when he goes on the attack and he showed it again at Kempes. Two of his climbs caused the best plays of the visiting team. In the first, Bullaude couldn’t connect with his left foot; in the second and after a rebound, Luca Langoni broke Guido Herrera’s goal for the partial 1-0.
The other one highlighted is Bullaude, that midfielder who shone in Godoy Cruz and who had a hard time adapting to Boca. There was even speculation about interrupting the Feyenoord loan from the Netherlands. For Martínez, who already had it at Tomba, it is hitch. In Salta he scored the winning goal and in Córdoba he reached goal position on several occasions. In the end, this deployment with offensive ambition It is his greatest virtue, beyond the fact that he is not denied with the ball by any means.
In any case, the most important thing for Martínez must be that some of his ideas are already recognized in Boca. The most visible: it is a team that goes forward and attacks with several players. The two forwards, this time Merentiel and Langoni, stand face to face with the rival defenders so that the full-backs can reach the back on the wings. Saracchi was better than Blondel in that department. In the center, Bullaude is joined by Juan Ramírez and Pol Fernández and that is why Boca can plant between 4 and 5 players in the area in any given play. This is how Langoni’s goal came.
The wake-up call was, and will be throughout the semester, the recoil. One obvious thing: it is impossible for a team that attacks most of the time not to be hurt by counterattacks. What Martínez must ensure is that this is not repeated insistently. Against Talleres he suffered three clear plays in the initial stage and they did not end in a goal only because of the good saves of Sergio Romero. Another small alarm: Cristian Lema had a hard time when he was left behind.
The changes in the second half improved Talleres and ironed out Boca. With Rubén Botta the Cordobans had greater possession. Thus, the game became more even. Martínez sent to the field Edinson Cavani and Lucas Janson, for Langoni and Ramírez and it didn’t work out. He opted for a modification in the coach’s drawing and it worked: he went from 4-3-1-2 to a 4-4-2. Cavani’s performance? Loose, it was noticed that he is one pace lower than the rest of his teammates. The feeling is that he will start the Cup on the substitute bench.
Saracchi, the best of the first stage, committed Fabra’s own penalty: he took Ramiro Ruiz Rodríguez. Nahuel Bustos won head-to-head against Chiquito Romero and tied.
In those minutes when Talleres was more, Ramón Sosa drove Lucas Blondel crazy. From an overflow by the Paraguayan, Ruiz Rodríguez received the penalty. It is worth remembering that next Saturday the right back Luis Advíncula will return, who did not travel to Córdoba due to a slight muscle discomfort.
Romero made another great save against Bustos with 15 minutes left. And now at the end, Nicolás Figal connected with his head a nice corner from Pol Fernández to give victory to Boca, that team that is in formation and that gave good feelings in the preseason.