The academy captain has returned to good form during the Carabao Cup hiatus due to the double dates of the South American qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup. The starting point of the meeting road in front of Belgrano, Racing’s Leonardo Sigali started the week on par with the team. Defenders of the Academy Did It After experiencing viral gastroenteritis.
The medical team sent him home last Friday as he developed the problem, as the players gathered for Saturday’s game against Lanus, a 2-0 win. The academy defender took advantage of the two days of free time to allow the team to recover well and no longer missed any training.. When the group returned to work on Tuesday, they rejoined and completed the same tasks as the others. He also conducted such training at the auxiliary field on Wednesday.
The Academy linebacker’s recovery is among the blows the Academy has received after learning that Roger Martinez suffered a Grade 2 tear in his biceps femoris in his right leg. As a result, he will be unable to take action for approximately three weeks. Therefore, the game against Belgrano on the last day of the regular season will be lost. His availability for the quarter-finals on the weekend of December 3 is uncertain. Their goal was to get him to at least go to the bank. It would be very fair and we’ll have to see if they decide to take the risk.
Colombo took part in Sigali’s match against Lanus and will continue to play against Belgrano
With the loss of Sigali, the academy defender who comes into the Fortress is Nazareno Colombo. When he looked set to become the first center forward in a four-man formation, the academy defender positioned himself as a free man, with Iván Pillud on the right and Gonzalo Pio Gonzalo Piovi is on the left. The full-backs are Jonatan Gomez (rare) and Gabriel Rojas. With this unprecedented defense, the youth academy successfully broke the record of conceding goals in 15 consecutive local games.
In addition to the Bears’ return against the Buccaneers, Colombo will remain in the starting lineup due to the absence of Gonzalo Piovi. As it happens, the academy defender received his fifth yellow card (for a foul on José Sander) and must honor his suspension date. If technical duo Sebastian Grazzini-Ezequiel Vydra returns to the four-man line, Colombo will be in the six-man line and Bruins in the two-man line. Without Piovi playing, Colombo will be the defender for one side if the coach decides to maintain a three-man formation. We’ll have to see who chooses the other. Possibly Piruud (also on the right) or a youth player on the left (perhaps Santiago Quiros). Regardless, the chances of this defensive system are relegated more to the next game.
Along with Jonatan Gomez, academy defender Sigali is one of two Racing players who are on the limit as they have accumulated four yellow cards and must look after themselves.
The struggle to tighten the nuts in the background
Gago, Grazzini and Videla have all just tried various tactical systems, but they have been unable to correct the team’s recurring defensive problems. Until the last game, despite some interference, the team ended the game with zero goals. I need it very much.
Cover photo: @RacingClub