Boca draw with the leaders but lose Leandro Paredes

Boca shared the points with Group A leaders Instituto after a 2-2 draw in Córdoba. Having come from behind twice away from home, the result might otherwise have been viewed positively. But Leandro Paredes’ injury cast a shadow over the match: Boca lost him during the game.

Instituto scored both goals from set pieces, through Fernando Alarcón and Jonatan Galván. Boca were angered by the second, which came after an earlier foul on Marco Pellegrino went unpunished. Boca levelled at 1-1 in a move involving Enner Valencia, then made it 2-2 with a flowing move finished by Merentiel.

During the match, with Boca trailing 1-2 in the second half, Rodolfo Arruabarrena brought on two starters: Paredes and Miguel Merentiel. Boca had begun with several changes after resting six starters ahead of upcoming fixtures, the Copa Sudamericana match against Vasco da Gama and the Superclásico against River.

The injury rules Paredes out of Tuesday’s semi-final against Vasco da Gama at the Bombonera; his availability for the return match in Brazil is also highly uncertain. Instituto remain top of Group A with 26 points. Boca have 21 and appear unlikely to miss out on the Clausura play-offs. The question now is how Boca will handle its decisive upcoming matches without Paredes, a captain who sets the tempo and absorbs the pressure.