- ‘El Xeneize’ eliminated São Paulo 2-1 on aggregate and will face Vasco da Gama for a place in the CONMEBOL Sudamericana Final.
- Champions in 2004 and 2005, Boca keep alive their dream of becoming the first three-time winners of the competition, with Miguel Merentiel and Leandro Lozano among the key figures in their qualification.
Boca Juniors arrived in the CONMEBOL Sudamericana hungry for redemption. They began their international campaign in Group D of the CONMEBOL Libertadores and appeared to be on course for qualification after two victories, but managed only one point from their next four matches and finished third. The switch of competitions offered a second chance, and ‘El Xeneize’ have already turned it into a place among the final four.
The end of the Group Stage also marked the conclusion of Claudio Úbeda’s spell in charge. During the break, Rodolfo Arruabarrena began his second stint as head coach and welcomed reinforcements such as Álvaro Montero, Leandro Lozano and Sebastián Villa, while several academy players also earned a greater role in the team. Their first obstacle was O’Higgins: Boca won 1-0 in Argentina, lost by the same scoreline in Chile and advanced 4-3 on penalties.
The Round of 16 brought a more clinical version of Boca. After coming from behind to beat Deportivo Recoleta 3-1 in the first leg, they claimed a 4-0 victory in Asunción to complete a 7-1 aggregate win. Santiago Ascacíbar scored in both matches, Villa contributed assists and a goal, and the youngsters also made their mark in a tie that strengthened the team ahead of a tougher challenge.
In the Quarter-finals, Boca built their advantage at ‘La Bombonera’. A goal from Miguel Merentiel earned them a 1-0 victory over São Paulo, who had arrived unbeaten in the competition, and allowed them to travel to Brazil with a narrow lead to defend. The Uruguayan once again delivered on a big night and moved Arruabarrena’s side one step closer to the Semi-finals.
The return leg produced another Uruguayan protagonist: Leandro Lozano. The right-back pushed forward down his flank and opened the scoring in the second half to extend Boca’s advantage in the tie. São Paulo equalised late on through a Domingos Duarte header, but the 1-1 draw at the MorumBIS secured a 2-1 aggregate victory for Boca.
Their next challenge will be Vasco da Gama, in another meeting between two historic South American clubs, this time with a place in the Final in Barranquilla at stake. Boca, champions in 2004 and 2005, have overcome three knockout ties since entering the competition and remain in pursuit of becoming the first three-time winners of ‘La Gran Conquista’.
CONMEBOL Libertadores Group Stage — Group D
Matchday 1: Universidad Católica 1-2 Boca Juniors (Juan Díaz / Leandro Paredes and Adam Bareiro, assisted by Lautaro Blanco).
Matchday 2: Boca Juniors 3-0 Barcelona (Lautaro Di Lollo and Santiago Ascacíbar, both assisted by Lautaro Blanco, and Ander Herrera, assisted by Alan Velasco).
Matchday 3: Cruzeiro 1-0 Boca Juniors (Néiser Villarreal, assisted by Kaio Jorge).
Matchday 4: Barcelona 1-0 Boca Juniors (Héctor Villalba, assisted by Jhonny Quiñónez).
Matchday 5: Boca Juniors 1-1 Cruzeiro (Miguel Merentiel, assisted by Leandro Paredes / Fágner, assisted by Kaiki).
Matchday 6: Boca Juniors 0-1 Universidad Católica (Clemente Montes, assisted by Eugenio Mena).
CONMEBOL Sudamericana Round of 16 Playoffs
First leg: Boca Juniors 1-0 O’Higgins (44’ 1H Miguel Merentiel, assisted by Leandro Paredes).
Second leg: O’Higgins 1-0 Boca Juniors (27’ 2H Francisco González). Boca won the penalty shootout 4-3.
CONMEBOL Sudamericana Round of 16
First leg: Boca Juniors 3-1 Deportivo Recoleta (Pedro Ríos / Santiago Ascacíbar, Milton Delgado and Leonel Flores).
Second leg: Deportivo Recoleta 0-4 Boca Juniors (Santiago Ascacíbar, Sebastián Villa, Miguel Merentiel and Alan Velasco). Boca advanced 7-1 on aggregate.
CONMEBOL Sudamericana Quarter-finals
First leg: Boca Juniors 1-0 São Paulo (Miguel Merentiel).
Second leg: São Paulo 1-1 Boca Juniors (Domingos Duarte / Leandro Lozano). Boca advanced 2-1 on aggregate.
CONMEBOL Sudamericana Semi-finals
First leg: Boca Juniors vs Vasco da Gama. Tuesday, October 13, at 9:30pm, at ‘La Bombonera’ in Buenos Aires.
Second leg: Vasco da Gama vs Boca Juniors. Tuesday, October 20, at 9:30pm, venue to be confirmed.
All kick-off times are local.
Boca Juniors head coach in the CONMEBOL Sudamericana 2026: Rodolfo Arruabarrena
Boca’s international campaign began under Claudio Úbeda, but there was a change in the dugout after the team’s elimination in the CONMEBOL Libertadores Group Stage. Rodolfo Arruabarrena returned to the club in June, during the World Cup break, a decade after his first spell in charge.
During his previous tenure, between August 2014 and March 2016, he managed 73 matches and won two trophies: the 2015 Argentine Primera División title and the Copa Argentina that same season. His connection with Boca runs even deeper: he came through the club’s youth academy and, as a left-back, was part of the team that won the CONMEBOL Libertadores in 2000.
After working in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Egypt and Saudi Arabia —as well as managing the UAE national team—, ‘El Vasco’ returned with the task of rebuilding ‘El Xeneize’. Leandro Paredes took on a leading role on the pitch, several academy graduates earned more playing time and Santiago Ascacíbar developed an increasingly attacking role, making runs from midfield that added further options to Boca’s forward play.
Qualification against O’Higgins was far from straightforward: Boca needed penalties after the teams exchanged 1-0 victories. The Round of 16, however, showed signs of progress. Arruabarrena’s side came from behind to beat Deportivo Recoleta 3-1 in the first leg before cruising to a 4-0 victory in Asunción to complete a 7-1 aggregate win. The Quarter-finals demanded different qualities: against São Paulo, Boca won 1-0 at ‘La Bombonera’ through a Miguel Merentiel goal and then protected their advantage in Brazil, where a Leandro Lozano strike helped secure a 1-1 draw.
Arruabarrena has therefore guided Boca through three knockout rounds in this CONMEBOL Sudamericana and into the final four. His team have found different ways to progress: from a penalty shootout in Chile to the emphatic display against Recoleta and the ability to manage a tight tie against São Paulo. Their next challenge will be Vasco da Gama, with a place in the Final in Barranquilla at stake and the objective of moving closer to the third ‘La Gran Conquista’ in the club’s history.
Full Boca Juniors Squad for the 2026 CONMEBOL Sudamericana
Goalkeepers: 1. Alvaro Montero - 12. Leandro Brey - 13. Javier Garcia - 47. Fernando Rodriguez.
Defenders: 2. Lautaro Di Lollo - 3. Lautaro Blanco - 4. Jorge Figal - 17. Leandro Lozano - 24. Dylan Gorosito - 26. Marco Pellegrino - 27. Malcom Braida - 32. Ayrton Costa - 40. Santiago Zampieri - 46. Matias Satas - 51. Gian Gadiel Paoli - 48. Baltazar Blum.
Midfielders: 5. Leandro Paredes - 6. Rodrigo Battaglia - 7. Carlos Palacios - 8. Tomas Belmonte - 15. Williams Alarcón - 18. Milton Delgado - 23. Camilo Rey - 25. Santiago Ascacibar - 31. Gonzalo Marquez - 34. Juan Payal - 35. Franco Perez - 39. Matias Calegari.
Forwards: 9. Milton Gimenez - 10. Tomas Aranda - 11. Ángel Romero - 16. Miguel Merentiel - 19. Leonel Flores - 20. Alan Velasco - 21. Kevin Zenón - 22. Sebastian Villa - 28. Adam Bareiro - 33. Lautaro Mendieta - 37. Gonzalo Gelini - 42. Facundo Herrera - 44. Rodrigo Bacidalupe - 45. Silvio Ventos - 49. Joaquin Piñeyro - 50. Dante Gonzalez - 52. Juan Pussetto - 53. Joaquin Ruiz - 54. Kevin Ferreira.
Boca Juniors key player in the CONMEBOL Sudamericana 2026: Leandro Paredes
Boca have found in Leandro Paredes much more than a central midfielder. He is the captain, the player who organises the build-up and the man his team look to when they need to change the tempo of a possession or break lines with a pass. The number five remains the axis around which Rodolfo Arruabarrena structures ‘El Xeneize’, now a CONMEBOL Sudamericana semi-finalist.
His continental campaign began with a goal from outside the box against Universidad Católica. He then assisted Miguel Merentiel against Cruzeiro and again set up the Uruguayan in the first meeting with O’Higgins, using the outside of his right foot to split the Chilean defence. In the shootout in Rancagua, he also stepped up to take Boca’s first penalty and converted, setting the tone for a contest his side would ultimately win.
After missing the Round of 16 second leg against Deportivo Recoleta due to a physical issue, Paredes returned to play a central role in the Quarter-finals against São Paulo. At ‘La Bombonera’, he helped restore balance after a strong start from the visitors and was involved in the build-up to the only goal with a simple but precise piece of play: he allowed the ball to run through his legs, accelerating a move that continued through Ascacíbar, Velasco and Blanco before Merentiel finished it. His reading of the game created an advantage without even touching the ball.
Boca completed qualification with a 1-1 draw in Brazil and will now face Vasco da Gama for a place in the Final in Barranquilla. At a stage where every possession can carry greater weight, Paredes’ ability to control the tempo, find passes between the lines and bring clarity to the team will be one of ‘El Xeneize’s’ main weapons as they continue their pursuit of ‘La Gran Conquista’.
Boca Juniors top scorer in the CONMEBOL Sudamericana 2026: Miguel Merentiel
Miguel Merentiel is Boca’s leading scorer in the 2026 CONMEBOL Sudamericana with three goals. He found the net in the 1-0 victory over O’Higgins in the Round of 16 Playoffs, scored again in the 4-0 win against Deportivo Recoleta in Asunción and netted the only goal in the first-leg victory over São Paulo in the Quarter-finals. Those contributions come in addition to his goal against Cruzeiro in the CONMEBOL Libertadores Group Stage, taking his tally to four goals in the international season.
His strike against São Paulo once again highlighted his ability to make the difference inside the penalty area. Seven minutes into the second half, he met a cross from Lautaro Blanco and, after Rafael saved his first attempt, reacted quickly to the rebound to make it 1-0. That goal gave Boca the advantage they later protected with a 1-1 draw in Brazil and left the Uruguayan alone at the top of the club’s scoring chart in the competition, ahead of Santiago Ascacíbar, who has two.
A focal point in Rodolfo Arruabarrena’s attacking structure, Merentiel has scored in each of the three knockout ties ‘El Xeneize’ have overcome since entering the CONMEBOL Sudamericana. Now, against Vasco da Gama, he will look to extend that influence in the decisive matches and provide the goals that could take Boca closer to the Final in Barranquilla.
Boca Juniors X-factor in the CONMEBOL Sudamericana 2026: Leonel Flores
Leonel Flores has begun turning his opportunity into a tangible contribution for Boca. At just 19, the academy player has gained prominence in Rodolfo Arruabarrena’s side and made his mark in the last two knockout rounds: he scored against Deportivo Recoleta in the Round of 16 and assisted Leandro Lozano against São Paulo in the Quarter-final second leg. His ability to influence decisive moments has made him one of the symbols of ‘El Xeneize’s’ recent growth.
Against Recoleta, he scored the third goal in the 3-1 victory that put Boca on course for qualification. At 19 years and 186 days, he became the youngest Boca player to score in a CONMEBOL knockout-stage match since Neri Cardozo, who had found the net against Cerro Porteño in the CONMEBOL Sudamericana Round of 16 at the age of 19 years and 52 days.
His contribution proved decisive again in Brazil. Fifteen minutes into the second half against São Paulo, Flores played a first-time pass into Lozano’s path down the right, sending the full-back forward into space before his finish. The precision and timing of the pass were key to breaking through the home defence and extending an advantage Boca would eventually protect to secure their place in the Semi-finals.
With Vasco da Gama up next, Flores represents an option capable of providing creativity and combination play in the final third. In a team that has Paredes as its playmaker and Merentiel as its leading scorer, the youngster has already shown that he can also take responsibility when a knockout tie demands something different.
Boca Juniors’ history in the CONMEBOL Sudamericana
Boca are competing in their 12th edition of the CONMEBOL Sudamericana in 2026. The defining chapters of their history in the competition were written in 2004 and 2005, when they became the first champions to successfully defend the title and remain, to this day, the only club to have lifted the trophy in consecutive seasons.
In 2004, Boca lost the first leg of the Final 1-0 against Bolívar in La Paz, but overturned the tie with a 2-0 victory at ‘La Bombonera’. A year later, they drew both matches of the Final against Pumas UNAM before prevailing 4-3 on penalties in Buenos Aires. Boca came close to the title again in 2014, when they reached the Semi-finals with Rodolfo Arruabarrena as head coach.
Twelve years later, and once again with ‘El Vasco’ in the dugout, ‘El Xeneize’ returned to that stage for the fourth time in their history. Their run began with a penalty-shootout victory over O’Higgins in the Playoffs and continued with two wins against Deportivo Recoleta, 3-1 and 4-0. In the Quarter-finals, they overcame São Paulo: Boca won 1-0 in Buenos Aires and drew 1-1 in Brazil to complete a 2-1 aggregate victory and secure their place among the final four.
With Paredes pulling the strings and a combination of experienced players and academy graduates taking on increasingly important roles during the knockout rounds, Boca continue to chase a milestone no club has yet achieved: winning a third CONMEBOL Sudamericana title. Their next obstacle will be Vasco da Gama, in a tie that will begin at ‘La Bombonera’ and be decided in Brazil, with a place in the Final in Barranquilla at stake.
