Boca Juniors will visit Platense this Saturday, August 15, 2026, at 9:15 PM local time, in a match corresponding to the fifth round of Group A of the Argentine Torneo Clausura. The game takes place at the Ciudad de Vicente López stadium, and the priority for coach Rodolfo Arruabarrena is clear: secure three points while keeping his squad fresh for the upcoming Copa Sudamericana round-of-16 second leg against Deportivo Recoleta, scheduled for next Tuesday in Asunción, Paraguay.
Arruabarrena, who returned for a second stint at the club, has found a system that works but faces a congested fixture list. To avoid injuries and manage minutes, he has decided to rotate several key starters, according to reports from TyC Sports and ESPN.
Who Rests and Who Comes In
The main candidates to be left out of the starting XI are Miguel Merentiel, Lautaro Di Lollo, Leandro Lozano, and Lautaro Blanco. Merentiel, the Uruguayan striker, has been below his best and scored only once in the first leg against O'Higgins. His spot could go to Enner Valencia, but the Ecuadorian forward is still not fit to start. Another option is to split minutes between the two or even play without a traditional number nine.
In defense, Nicolás Figal would replace Di Lollo, while young Dylan Gorosito would take the right-back position from Lozano, who has struggled with physical issues since joining. On the left, Malcom Braida is the likely replacement if Blanco is rested.
In midfield, captain Leandro Paredes might also be preserved. The Argentina international missed the heavy defeat to Riestra and has played every match since returning from the World Cup. Arruabarrena will decide whether to start him or bring him on later.
Attack Options
The young duo of Tomás Aranda and Leonel Flores—currently the team's main creative sparks—have strong substitutes in Alan Velasco, who is enjoying his best form since joining, and Sebastián Villa, who impressed in the Sudamericana match. The coach could give the youngsters a breather and introduce the experienced pair.
Confirmed Squad and Absences
The coaching staff has repeated the same 24-man squad that was available for the Recoleta match. Enner Valencia is again left out, as he continues his physical preparation after participating in the World Cup. The 36-year-old, who joined on a free transfer, had his first training session this Sunday and could travel to Asunción if deemed fit.
Also omitted are Williams Alarcón and Milton Giménez. Alarcón has a loan move to Atlanta United that fell through due to disagreements between clubs, though negotiations continue. Giménez has attracted interest from Vélez and received an offer from Olimpia that was rejected.
Fan Support
Boca will have the backing of nearly 6,000 supporters in Vicente López, after the Professional Football League approved the presence of away fans. Tickets have already sold out.
Probable Lineup
Based on press reports, the starting eleven could be:
| Position | Player |
|---|---|
| Goalkeeper | Álvaro Montero |
| Right Back | Dylan Gorosito |
| Center Back | Nicolás Figal |
| Center Back | Ayrton Costa |
| Left Back | Lautaro Blanco (or Malcom Braida) |
| Midfielder | Santiago Ascacibar |
| Midfielder | Leandro Paredes (or Milton Delgado) |
| Attacking Midfielder | Tomás Aranda (or Alan Velasco) |
| Winger | Leonel Flores (or Sebastián Villa) |
| Striker | Miguel Merentiel (or Enner Valencia) |
The match will be broadcast on ESPN Premium. Boca comes into this fixture after a 3-1 win over Recoleta in the first leg of the Sudamericana, but in the domestic league they need to recover ground after a shaky start.
Sources: TyC Sports, ESPN