Boca's Injury List Piles Up Ahead of Key Stretch: Lanús on Friday, Then Copa Sudamericana and Copa Argentina

The draw against Racing left behind more than just a split of points. Boca came out of the derby with a packed infirmary, right as the schedule starts to tighten: on Friday, August 28, at 9:30 p.m. at La Bombonera, Lanús visits for the Torneo Clausura, and right behind that loom the quarterfinals of the 2026 Copa Sudamericana and a decisive clash with Vélez in the Copa Argentina. With that outlook, every name on the medical report carries extra weight.

The most notable case is Ayrton Costa. The defender is dealing with hamstring discomfort stemming from lower back pain, and he's already been ruled out for the match against Lanús. It's a costly absence at the back, especially with the busy run of games coming up. The outlook is different for Milton Delgado: he had a hamstring strain, but tests didn't reveal a serious injury, so he remains available to Rodolfo Arruabarrena.

The Ones on the Fence

There's a group that has been improving day by day and that the coaching staff is watching closely. Leandro Paredes has inflammation in his left hamstring and could be available against Lanús, though it's still unclear whether he'll start or wait on the bench. Something similar is happening with Leandro Lozano, who is nursing a strain in the hamstrings of his left leg: he might be able to play, but whether he'll start remains an open question.

There are also positive signs with Lautaro Di Lollo, who is doing modified training at Boca Predio for a groin issue and is already available to the coach; he could even be among the starters on Friday. A bit further behind in his recovery timeline is Malcom Braida, who is still recovering from a strain caused by a knock during training sessions ahead of the game with Recoleta, though there's already talk that he could rejoin the squad for the match with Lanús.

The Injuries Taking Longer

The picture gets more complicated with the long-term injuries. Adam Bareiro is dealing with a lumbar disc condition with no set return date: for now he's only jogging on the field, and if there's no improvement, he'll need surgery. Marco Pellegrino is, right now, the squad's most delicate case: he suffered a muscle tear and will need at least another week and a half before he can get back on the field.

Rodrigo Battaglia is going through a much longer recovery. He hasn't played an official match since December 7, after having surgery on his Achilles tendon, and he still hasn't made his debut this year. The expectation is that he won't be available until mid-October. The longest case, however, belongs to Agustín Marchesín: after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, he had surgery on April 20, and his return to the squad isn't expected until December or January, already heading into preseason 2027.

With this situation on his hands, Arruabarrena will have to manage each player's return week by week. Boca had already flagged specific absences for the Sudamericana, when it reported that Lozano was dealing with a strain in his left semimembranosus and Milton Giménez a grade II adductor injury. The question that remains is whether the team will arrive at full strength, or as close to it as possible, for the matches that will define the season.