Boca Juniors defeats Sarmiento 2-0 in Copa Argentina debut

Boca Juniors secured a 2-0 victory over Sarmiento de Junín in Rosario, advancing to the Round of 16 in the Copa Argentina. This win marked the debut of new head coach Rodolfo Arruabarrena and saw goals from Alan Velasco and young talent Leonel Flores, both scored in the second half with long-range shots.

The match took place at the Marcelo Bielsa Stadium, with Nazareno Arasa officiating. Boca's next opponent in the tournament will be Vélez, who defeated Gimnasia y Tiro de Salta. Potential quarter-final matchups could include Racing or Belgrano, with San Lorenzo being a possible semi-final opponent. A final against River Plate remains a possibility later in the competition.

This victory is a crucial step for Boca Juniors as they seek to rebound from a disappointing first half of the season. The team was eliminated from the Copa Libertadores and the Torneo Apertura's Round of 16. In the latter half of the year, Boca will compete in the Clausura, the Copa Sudamericana (having dropped down from the Libertadores), and the Copa Argentina.

Notably, Leandro Paredes was unavailable for Boca as he is currently participating in the 2026 World Cup with the Argentine national team. The club is looking to build momentum and achieve success in its remaining competitions.