Calleri Injured Against Sao Paulo, Casting Doubt on Boca Clash in Sudamericana Quarterfinals

There were barely 30 minutes left in the first half when Jonathan Calleri grabbed his left ankle and knew right away that his afternoon was over. He needed help to leave the field, unable to put any weight on the foot, and that image set off alarm bells at Sao Paulo just as Boca Juniors starts eyeing the upcoming Copa Sudamericana clash.

The Brazilian club ended up losing by the minimum to Chapecoense, but the result took a back seat. What really has the club worried is the health of its captain, who was forced off in the 31st minute of the first half in visible pain, unable to hide his discomfort.

Sao Paulo returns to training this Monday, and that's when Calleri will undergo tests to determine the severity of the injury. If the diagnosis confirms a sprain, the forward could be sidelined for two to three weeks, a timeline that would leave him cutting it very close, if he makes it at all, for the first leg of the quarterfinals against Boca, scheduled for September 9 at La Bombonera. The full extent of the injury should become clear in the coming hours.

Boca also dealing with injury concerns ahead of what's next

On the other side of the bracket, the outlook isn't simple either. Boca's draw against Racing in matchday six of the Torneo Clausura left Miguel Angel Russo with mixed feelings: not only did his side fail to pick up all three points in Avellaneda, but the team also suffered two injury exits that now leave the club waiting on news.

Ayrton Costa felt a muscle issue late in the first half and did not return for the second, replaced by Facundo Herrera, who filled in capably. Milton Delgado, for his part, left the field in the 56th minute with a hamstring strain, in a moment that raised concern since the stretcher was even brought onto the pitch, though it was later confirmed to be only minor discomfort.

Both players will be evaluated early this week, and the team Russo fields next Friday at 9:30 p.m., when Boca hosts Lanus at La Bombonera, will depend on how they progress. Leandro Paredes, meanwhile, appears set to return to the starting lineup, which gives the midfield some breathing room.

Asked about the physical condition of his players, the coach preferred not to give away too much:

I'm not giving out clues. They're in their recovery process, they're doing well, they won't get a day off, they'll keep working. We're trying to get them back as soon as possible. We're not going to take risks, obviously, because then we could lose them for longer. But they're doing well, they're progressing.Miguel Angel Russo

On Costa he was more direct, acknowledging that "he went off injured and that's one less soldier," while also stressing his confidence in the back line despite the absences: "They're the center backs I have and I'm satisfied with them, even though people criticize them. I talk about it a lot and I go to war with them." On top of that, Marco Pellegrino remains in recovery and, in principle, would also be unavailable for the match against Lanus.

Between Calleri's physical uncertainty at Sao Paulo and the injuries left behind by the clasico against Racing at Boca, the Sudamericana quarterfinal matchup is starting to take shape as much on the field as in the recovery rooms of both clubs.