Boca Juniors Clinch Superclásico Against River Plate 1-0 with Paredes Penalty

Buenos Aires – In a fiercely contested Superclásico, Boca Juniors emerged victorious over River Plate with a narrow 1-0 win at the Monumental stadium. The crucial goal, scored by Leandro Paredes from the penalty spot in the dying moments of the first half, was enough to secure all three points for Boca in this interzonal clash of the Apertura Tournament 2026's 15th round.

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The match, as all Superclásicos are, was tight at the start, with no dangerous chances for either team.

The match, as is characteristic of any Superclásico, was a tense affair from the outset. Both teams struggled to create clear-cut chances, with the play often bogged down in midfield battles. River Plate attempted to utilize set pieces, sending crosses into the box that were consistently dealt with by Boca's defense. Boca, meanwhile, focused on long balls to their forwards, Miguel Merentiel and Adam Bareiro, who posed the most significant threats.

River Plate suffered a blow when forward Sebastián Driussi was forced off due to a muscular injury, replaced by Maxi Salas. Despite the physical nature of the game, Salas had a golden opportunity to put River ahead, but his powerful shot narrowly missed the post. The first half was a testament to the grit and determination of both sides, with more struggle than fluid play.

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In a context of more struggle than play, the home team lost Sebastián Driussi.

Boca Juniors, however, managed to break the deadlock. Following a period of possession initiated by Leandro Paredes, the team pressed forward. A handball incident in the box, initially missed by the referee but later confirmed by VAR, led to the penalty. Paredes calmly converted the spot-kick, giving Boca the lead against the run of play. River Plate, despite finishing the half at a disadvantage, avoided further punishment as the defender involved did not receive a second yellow card.

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Boca Juniors took the lead thanks to Leandro Paredes.

In the second half, River Plate pushed for an equalizer, introducing Giuliano Galoppo and Joaquín Freitas to bolster their midfield. However, a defensive error from River's defense gifted possession back to Boca, highlighting the fine margins in such high-stakes encounters. This victory is a significant result for Boca Juniors, reinforcing their position in the tournament and adding another chapter to the storied rivalry with River Plate, a narrative deeply ingrained in Argentine football culture.

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Leandro Paredes executed the penalty superbly and opened the scoring for Boca.