- Boca Juniors secured victory over O’Higgins through a Miguel Merentiel goal.
- With a 1-0 lead, El Xeneize will travel to Chile for the decisive second leg on Thursday 30 July.
Rodolfo Arruabarrena’s second spell in charge began with a win on the international stage as Boca Juniors defeated O’Higgins 1-0 through Merentiel’s goal to take the advantage in their CONMEBOL Sudamericana Round of 16 play-off tie. The contest will be decided in the return leg in Chile on Thursday 30 July.
El Xeneize grew into the match and produced a performance that combined the debuts of new signings, the emergence of academy players and the return of one of the key figures from the Argentina side that finished runners-up at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Goalkeeper Álvaro Montero delivered whenever called upon on his debut, while Sebastián Villa, back at the club following his impressive spell with Independiente Rivadavia, was a constant threat throughout the 90 minutes.
Academy prospect Dylan Gorosito started at right-back and showed he has the qualities to make the position his own. Fellow youth products Tomás Aranda — now wearing the No10 shirt — Milton Delgado and Leonel Flores also featured, adding further homegrown talent to the side.
Although he is now an established star with European experience and major performances for his country, Leandro Paredes completed the quintet of players developed in Boca’s academy.
A World Cup winner and two-time Copa América champion, the blue-and-gold captain chose not to rest after his recent campaign on the global stage. Having played in Argentina’s final against Spain the previous Sunday, Paredes stepped off the plane, was honoured by his hometown supporters and immediately joined Arruabarrena’s squad.
He went on to deliver another influential performance, setting up Miguel Merentiel’s opener in the 44th minute with an exquisite through ball struck with the outside of his right boot.
Despite the defeat, head coach Lucas Bovaglio will be able to take positives into the return leg in Rancagua, particularly from a first half in which O’Higgins created the clearer chances against one of the continent’s giants in the always demanding surroundings of La Bombonera.
While Boca controlled possession without finding a way to trouble the opposition goal, the visitors looked more threatening from the outset. Five minutes into the match, Francisco González — who will move to Mexican football after the tie — was unable to lift his finish accurately over Álvaro Montero.
The Colombian goalkeeper was called into action again on his first appearance between the posts, producing a strong save to keep out Martín Sarrafiore’s powerful left-footed strike after 21 minutes.
Arruabarrena’s side gradually grew into the match under the guidance of Paredes, the undisputed master of midfield. The left flank offered a glimpse of what could lie ahead, with Lautaro Blanco constantly pushing forward and Sebastián Villa posing a threat in one-on-one situations. Dylan Gorosito’s runs down the right also brought the crowd to their feet, while Miguel Merentiel, operating in a different role as the lone striker, scored the only goal of the night against the ever-difficult-to-beat Omar Carabalí.
Boca Juniors continued to create dangerous situations in the second half, but O’Higgins held firm and even pushed higher up the pitch during the closing stages. Paraguay’s Arnaldo Castillo, who battled tirelessly with the Xeneize centre-backs, repeatedly caused problems through his aerial strength. Francisco González, who has enjoyed an excellent year with the Chilean side, added intensity and intelligent movement in a strong display from El Capo de Provincia.
O’Higgins will look to overturn the deficit at home, encouraged by the positive signs they took away from Buenos Aires. Boca Juniors, still a team under construction following Rodolfo Arruabarrena’s return, will have to defend their away lead to secure a place in the Round of 16, where the winners will face surprise package Recoleta.
The match in numbers
- Four days after the conclusion of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Leandro Paredes became the first player who featured in the final to return to club action.
- O’Higgins won 67 per cent of the 21 aerial duels they contested, their highest figure in the 2026 CONMEBOL Sudamericana. They also made 42 recoveries, another season-high in international competition.
- Leandro Paredes registered his second assist in CONMEBOL competitions since returning to Boca Juniors. Both have set up goals for Miguel Merentiel.
- Miguel Merentiel scored Boca’s winning goal. He is the first Xeneize player to score twice in international competitions this season.
- Boca averaged 59 per cent possession against O’Higgins and have recorded an average of 62 per cent at home in CONMEBOL competitions in 2026.
- O’Higgins attempted 10 shots against Boca, the highest total by a visiting team at La Bombonera in CONMEBOL competitions in 2026.
