- Lautaro Blanco has featured in all 22 of Boca Juniors’ matches since Rodolfo Arruabarrena’s return, starting 21 of them and establishing himself as a key figure in ‘Vasco’s’ side.
- His consistency and attacking contribution make him one of the Xeneize’s main weapons as they look to overturn their deficit against Vasco da Gama and keep their dream of ‘La Gran Conquista’ alive.
Boca Juniors coach Rodolfo Arruabarrena knows the secrets of playing at left-back. As a player, he was part of the Xeneize’s golden era under Carlos Bianchi and produced some unforgettable moments, including his two goals in the 2-2 draw with Palmeiras in the first leg of the 2000 CONMEBOL Libertadores Final.
Since returning to the club as coach in mid-2026, Arruabarrena has made important decisions to help Boca re-establish themselves as contenders on all fronts. This Tuesday, they face Vasco da Gama in the CONMEBOL Sudamericana Semi-finals. With rotation and injuries forcing him to manage his squad carefully, only one player has featured in every match the blue-and-gold side have played this year. Lautaro Blanco, the left-back who joined Boca in January 2024, has started 21 of their 22 matches in the second half of the year, playing 1,844 of a possible 1,980 minutes.
Even when he started on the bench, he still ended up on the pitch. Against Gimnasia de Mendoza on 5 September, he came on in the second half and played 22 minutes. Amid a demanding schedule, Blanco continues to deliver in a way his coach particularly appreciates. “There are times when you worry about putting him on, but the truth is that he delivers. He played very well again today,” Arruabarrena said after the victory over Central Córdoba.
His constant presence in the side can also be explained by what he offers at the other end of the pitch, beyond his defensive contribution. By setting up Miguel Merentiel’s goal in the recent win over Talleres, Blanco reached ten assists in 2026, his best annual tally since joining the club. He recorded nine in 2024 and three in 2025: this season, he has surpassed both totals and underlined his ability to make a difference in the opposition half.
His tireless runs down the flank and crosses that defenders struggle to read remain his trademarks, but he has added new dimensions to his attacking game. Against Talleres, he won the ball back in the opposition half and set up Merentiel from a central position with his right foot. Against Instituto, he had also picked out the Uruguayan with a through ball down the middle. His ability to catch opponents off guard no longer depends solely on reaching the byline. “He’s doing a great job, often going down the outside and, at other times, advancing through the middle,” Arruabarrena explained.
Merentiel is one of the beneficiaries of that output. After the victory over San Lorenzo, in which he scored from the full-back’s assist, he stressed the importance of having players who can provide support from deeper positions: “It’s very important for the full-backs to get forward and deliver those dangerous crosses.” The understanding between the pair gives Boca a familiar route through opposition defences.
The CONMEBOL Sudamericana also reflects the prominent role Blanco has earned in blue and gold. If he features against Vasco da Gama this Tuesday, he will reach 16 appearances for Boca in the competition, as will Merentiel, with both moving ahead of José María Calvo into joint fifth place on the club’s all-time appearance list in the tournament. The full-back also has more wins in the competition with the Xeneize than any other member of the current squad, with nine victories.
At the Maracanã, Boca will need to overturn their 1-0 defeat at La Bombonera to reach the Final. Their pursuit of a goal will demand penetration, precision and the ability to sustain attacks while remaining alert to their defensive duties. Blanco will shoulder many of those responsibilities. Arruabarrena, who knows the path from left-back to a night of continental glory, has a player in that position willing to cover that ground time and again to achieve his goals.
