Boca Juniors, the current runner-up in the Copa Libertadores, is set to make its debut this Wednesday in the Sudamericana with a challenging trip to Bolivia, where they will face Nacional Potosí at an altitude of 4,100 meters. However, they will be traveling with some important absences among their starters.

Watch Nacional Potosí vs. Boca Juniors on Wednesday, April 3rd, starting at 7:55 PM ET / 4:55 PM PT live on beIN SPORTS XTRA

The match against San Lorenzo, part of the twelfth round of the Copa de la Liga, yielded a valuable victory for the 'Xeneize' this weekend, but also brought three serious absences: Lucas Blondel suffered a ligament rupture, sidelining him for 6 to 8 months; Marcos Rojo has a left ankle trauma; and Uruguayan striker Edinson Cavani, in a scoring streak, has a left hamstring overload.

Considering this scenario, Boca Juniors' coach, Diego Martínez, decided not to travel to Bolivia, stating in a press conference after the match against 'Ciclón' that "it's a complex trip."

"We have worked together with the club's management and logistics team to ensure that, despite the difficulties of the trip, it is handled in the best possible way," he commented.

This journey, which will also not include Sergio Romero due to Achilles tendon inflammation, as well as the suspended players (from the 2023 Libertadores) Frank Fabra and Nicolás Figal, will begin with a flight from Buenos Aires to Sucre, the administrative capital of Bolivia.

When Does Boca Juniors Debut in the Copa Sudamericana?

Subsequently, the Boca Juniors squad will split up to travel by land to Potosí, approximately 150 kilometers away, using 4x4 vehicles due to the challenging terrain.

The 'xeneize' team will have their final training session on Monday before traveling to Bolivia for their debut in Group D, which also includes Nacional Potosí led by Argentine coach Claudio Biaggio, as well as Brazilian side Fortaleza and Paraguayan club Sportivo Trinidense.

With six Copa Libertadores titles (1977, 1978, 2000, 2001, 2003, and 2007) under their belt, Boca Juniors is embarking on their eleventh participation in the Sudamericana, a tournament they won in 2004 and 2005 against Bolívar from Bolivia and Pumas UNAM from Mexico, respectively.