- The ‘Xeneize’ drew 1-1 with São Paulo at the MorumBIS and advanced from the CONMEBOL Sudamericana Quarter-finals with a 2-1 aggregate victory.
- Leandro Lozano opened the scoring and Domingos Duarte equalised late on. Boca will face Vasco da Gama in the next round.
Boca Juniors are among the final four of the 2026 CONMEBOL Sudamericana, returning to this stage of a CONMEBOL competition for the first time since the 2023 CONMEBOL Libertadores. Rodolfo Arruabarrena’s side drew 1-1 with São Paulo at the MorumBIS and made their first-leg victory at ‘La Bombonera’ count to advance from the Quarter-finals. An attacking contribution from Leandro Lozano, Álvaro Montero’s saves and Boca’s resistance during a demanding finish defined the Argentine side’s night.
With the advantage provided by Miguel Merentiel’s goal in Buenos Aires, Boca started with the intention of competing for possession and playing in the opposition half. São Paulo gradually gained ground during a first half with few clear chances and found an avenue of attack through their aerial play. In the 38th minute, Montero produced a decisive intervention, stretching to turn away a Gustavo Santana header and preserve the clean sheet before half-time.
The Brazilian side renewed their attacking push at the start of the second half. Luciano tried his luck from outside the box and also tested Montero with a header that the goalkeeper held comfortably. Boca, however, found the goal that extended their advantage: 15 minutes into the second half, Leonel Flores played a first-time pass to Lozano on the right, and the Uruguayan full-back burst forward at pace, entered the box and beat Rafael with a powerful left-footed strike.
São Paulo now needed two goals to take the tie to penalties and came close to pulling one back shortly afterwards. Ryan Francisco put the ball in the net after an assist from Luciano, but the move was ruled out for an offside position involving the No. 10, a decision confirmed following a VAR review. Boca therefore preserved an advantage that forced the hosts to continue taking risks.
Arruabarrena refreshed his side with the introductions of Sebastián Villa, Ángel Romero and Tomás Belmonte. Boca also had an opportunity to extend their lead when Santiago Ascacíbar met a cross and sent a left-footed effort narrowly wide. São Paulo finally found the equaliser in the 44th minute of the second half through a Domingos Duarte header, adding uncertainty to the closing moments. The ‘Tricolor’ pushed for the goal that would force a penalty shoot-out, but the visitors held firm, preserved the 1-1 draw and secured qualification.
The ‘Xeneize’s’ next challenge will be Vasco da Gama, who eliminated Independiente Santa Fe. The tie will begin at ‘La Bombonera’ and be decided in Rio de Janeiro: another meeting between Argentine and Brazilian opposition will determine one of the finalists of 'The Great Conquest'.
The match in numbers
- Boca Juniors have qualified for the CONMEBOL Sudamericana Semi-finals for the fourth time, and for the first time since 2014.
- Boca Juniors have won a CONMEBOL knockout tie against Brazilian opposition for the second time in the last six years: against Palmeiras in the 2023 CONMEBOL Libertadores Semi-finals and now against São Paulo.
- São Paulo are unbeaten at home in the CONMEBOL Sudamericana for 17 consecutive matches (15W 2D) and have not lost at the MorumBIS since 2018, when they were beaten 1-0 by Colón de Santa Fe.
- Boca Juniors are conceding an average of 0.5 goals per game in the 2026 CONMEBOL Sudamericana (three in six matches), their best defensive record in the competition since 2014 (also 0.5).
- Leandro Lozano scored the fourth goal of his career in CONMEBOL competitions (33 appearances), and his first for Boca Juniors. It is also the first time he has scored at such an advanced stage as the Quarter-finals.
- Three of São Paulo’s last five goals in the CONMEBOL Sudamericana have been headers. Since the start of the Round of 16 in this edition, the ‘Tricolor Paulista’ have scored three headed goals, more than any other team in the competition.
