Leandro Paredes in line to return to Boca's squad list for Lanús clash

After the draw in the clásico against Racing, Boca return to La Bombonera with news that lifts the mood at the Ezeiza training complex: Leandro Paredes is set to be available for selection when the team hosts Lanús.

The captain had felt discomfort in his left hamstring during the away trip to Platense and had not set foot on a pitch since. He missed the return leg against Deportivo Recoleta in Paraguay and was also unable to feature in the weekend's clásico at El Cilindro because of the inflammation that worried Rodolfo Arruabarrena at a moment when the team needed its most experienced midfielder.

The recovery, however, is on track. According to Diego Monroig on SportsCenter, Paredes has progressed well in recent days and would be included in the squad for the match against the Granate, corresponding to matchday 7 of the 2026 Clausura. The plan, in any case, would not be to risk him as a starter: he would begin on the bench and be available to the coaching staff if the game calls for his introduction.

Not all the news out of the squad list is good. Ayrton Costa has been ruled out for this match, while Lautaro Di Lollo is expected to return after getting past his own physical issue. Boca's back line, then, remains a puzzle that Arruabarrena will have to solve before confirming his lineup.

There is also a fresh face drawing attention in the call up: young center back Matías Satas, product of Boca's youth academy, appears among the summoned players for the first time. His inclusion does not guarantee minutes, but it does confirm that the club continues to look to its own ranks for internal reinforcements in a defense that needs options.

An awaited return to La Bombonera

Boca return to home turf after a stretch that took them to Paraguay and to El Cilindro, and they do so hoping to have Paredes close to the pitch, even if only from the bench. His absence was felt in how the team managed the rhythm of matches, something Arruabarrena himself has pointed out in recent weeks when discussing the captain's importance in midfield.

The match against Lanús is not just a footballing test. It is also a chance to regain form at home, backed by the fans, and to gradually add pieces ahead of what's coming on the calendar. If Paredes gets on the field for even a few minutes, it will be a sign that the worst of that hamstring issue is behind him.