Racing and Boca close the quarterfinal tie of the CONMEBOL Libertadores, and after a goalless draw in La Bombonera in the first leg, the goalkeepers can be the main protagonists of the night in Avellaneda. Gabriel Arias and Sergio Romero have shown throughout their long careers that they are up to the challenge of shining in decisive moments and their teams trust them in case the match needs to be decided from the penalty spot to be among the top four teams in America.
In the Cilindro, the most important match of the year for Fernando Gago's and Jorge Almirón's teams will be played, as they couldn't find a difference in the first leg. In the case of the former goalkeeper of the Argentine National Team, he didn't have much work in the start of the series: Racing hardly had any shots on goal. On the Chilean team's side, the demand wasn't exhausting, but he responded when necessary (especially with a precise header from Edinson Cavani at the beginning).
Both Arias and Romero are in a position to rely on their resumes to reach the decisive duel with confidence in Avellaneda. The goalkeepers have ample experience, they have experience in high-pressure situations, and they become strong when they are responsible for penalty shootouts.
Arias, affinity with penalties and positive records
Since joining the Academia, Arias has defended his position as the starting goalkeeper. He faced a ligament injury that sidelined him for several months, but he recovered his form and is now indispensable for Gago's team.
In the Libertadores, the Chilean has a favorable precedent to hold on to: he has already been a standout in a direct elimination series against the reigning champion. In 2020, he led Racing to the quarterfinals after a great performance in regular time against Flamengo and stopping the most important penalty from William Arão.
That night wasn't the only opportunity in which Arias excelled in a penalty shootout. He did it also in the 2021 Copa Argentina, with two saves against San Martín de San Juan and he stopped two shots against Vélez to take Racing to the semi-finals of the Copa de la Liga in the same year.
In total, with the albiceleste shirt, he faced 37 penalties: he saved 8, 3 went wide, and 28 were scored. In his career, he has participated in ten penalty shootouts, winning six (three with Racing) and losing four (three with Racing).
In this Libertadores, Racing hasn't conceded a goal since Arias returned to the goal. The Chilean couldn't play in the first leg against Nacional due to injury, Tagliamonte took his place, and Racing lost 4-2. In the second leg against the Colombian team, the goal remained untouched, and Gago's team qualified with a resounding victory.
Romero, with a recent penalty shootout win and powerful memories
Chiquito arrived at Boca to take Agustín Rossi's place, an expert in penalty shootouts, and his absence was felt at La Bombonera. With his departure, the fans were skeptical and Romero was looked at with suspicion, questioned for his injuries, inactivity, and his past at Racing, a common resistance when there is an exchange between major clubs.
Despite boasting an international career and being a protagonist of one of the anecdotes that went down in Argentine World Cup history, Romero had to prove himself.
To take charge of the goal at La Bombonera, the goalkeeper who stopped Vlaar and Sneijder's shots from the Netherlands in the semi-finals of Brazil 2014 arrived. The goalkeeper who "became a hero" in the penalty shootout that took the National Team to a final after 24 years, was demanded by La Boca.
Romero didn't take long to prove his credentials and convince, both the coach and the fans, that he was up to the task of guarding the Boca Juniors goal. He has already saved six penalties out of the eleven he has faced at Boca, including the decisive shootout against Nacional that allowed them to reach the quarterfinals of the CONMEBOL Libertadores, less than a month ago.
In his career, Romero has participated in ten penalty shootouts, winning four, and the team of Jorge Almirón will rely on his skill in case of a draw at the Cilindro on Wednesday.