It was one of the worst games of Diego Martínez’s cycle. From the initial proposal, to the choice of names, to the decisions made during the Superclassic River won 1-0 thanks to Manuel Lanzini’s goal. The coach risked little. The truth is that, beyond collective functioning, there were low individual levels. And many low points. Above all, Edinson Cavaniwho had not played an official match for 36 days.
The best thing he showed was Exequiel Zeballosplaying in the position that feels best, on the outside, unbalancing. The rest, he did not exceed the five-point barrier. Boca needed much more from its players in terms of play and attitude, something they only showed in the second half, a product of self-love.
Next, Clarín’s report card of the Boca players.
Sergio Romero (4):
He was responsible for River’s goal. He gave a short rebound after Colidio’s shot and left the ball to Lanzini. He made up for Rojo’s mistake with a handball goalie-style cover. He ended up angry with the fans and with a violation.
Luis Advíncula (5):
After a weak first half, in which he did not have a leading role and lost one-on-one with Enzo Díaz, the Peruvian sought to be sharper on the right. He won a very difficult ball from Borja on the return. He finished a shot off the crossbar.
Cristian Lema (4):
He fought with Bareiro and had a much harder time dealing with the Paraguayan than controlling Borja. Collidium, on the other hand, made his life impossible. At the start, he abused the ball. He ended up expelled for protesting.
Marcos Rojo (4):
Slow, he did not prevail in the individual duel. He made a mistake that almost ended in River’s second shout. He should have been sent off, but Ramírez turned a blind eye to his first foul, which merited a yellow card.
Lautaro Blanco (5):
As usually happens, he was the sharpest player. Even so, he was never comfortable overflowing, nor did he have any ease in sending crosses, despite surpassing Bustos. In the last one, he assisted Giménez in the disallowed goal.
Ignacio Miramón (3):
Martínez insisted on placing the central midfielder against the right in a position that he does not feel and in which he does not gravitate. Lanzini ate his back in the play that led to River’s goal.
Paul Fernández (4):
It could not be exited. He succumbed to the pressure of River’s midfielders and recovered little. When he grabbed the spear in the second half it was pure inaccuracy. He ended up replaced and whistled.
Kevin Zenón (5):
He failed to impose his talent. He was very discontinuous. He had some time in the first half, when he combined with Blanco, but suffered from Simón. He turned to the right, but he didn’t lose his balance either.
Cristian Medina (5):
He played loosely, almost like a hook. It was difficult for him to get into rhythm because River covered him very well with Fonseca. Only at the end of the first half did he take charge of the team. He arrived in the area shortly.
Miguel Merentiel (4):
It did not generate a single goal situation. Uncomfortable, he played more freely, without being the reference. He lost a lot of balls.
Edinson Cavani (3):
He almost didn’t touch the ball. Always with his back turned, he lost to the visiting centre-backs. He was never facing the goal. Martínez gave him too much time on the court and replaced him in the complement.
Exequiel Zeballos (6):
Boca’s best player. He started on the right and finished on the left. He complicated the two sides and created a one-on-one situation that Armani covered. He gave greater vitality to the attack.
Milton Giménez (5):
Came in late. He was more participatory than Cavani. He had two clear ones. One that Armani jammed low, almost on the edge of the baseline, and the goal was disallowed by a rebound off his hand.
Aaron Anselmino (–):
He replaced Rojo. In a few minutes, he showed more freshness than the captain. He won a dangerous one-on-one against Borja.
Milton Delgado (–):
Moveable, but with little participation in the handful of minutes he played.
Juan Barinaga (–):
He contributed almost nothing. A diagonal play inwards, with little gravitas.