Boca's center-back, Cristian Lema, suffered a severe injury to his left ankle during the match against Deportivo Riestra, corresponding to the nineteenth round of the Liga Profesional de Fútbol. After undergoing the necessary medical examinations, it was confirmed that Lema has a ligament injury in his left ankle and a partial injury to the anterior inferior tibiofibular syndesmosis.
The club's official statement indicated that Lema's recovery could take anywhere from six to twelve weeks, casting doubt on his participation in the remaining matches of 2024. During the match against Deportivo Riestra, the 34-year-old player was injured when his left foot became caught in the grass of La Bombonera and he fell with all his body weight on it.
Lema's injury raised concerns on Boca's bench, led by Fernando Gago. The defender had to be removed from the field on a stretcher and assisted by the team's medical staff. The severity of the injury leaves Lema's return to the pitch in the near future uncertain, representing a significant loss for the xeneize team.
