The scoreboard at the Único Madre de Ciudades stadium read 2-1 in favor of Boca Juniors, a result that, in isolation, suggested a mission accomplished. The Xeneize had arrived in Santiago del Estero needing a victory to keep their hopes of topping the group alive. They got that win, but the celebration occurred while the mathematical reality in Vicente López was being decided.
While Boca was grinding out a result, Estudiantes de La Plata secured a convincing 2-0 victory over Platense. The win for the La Plata side pushed them to 31 points, rendering Boca’s climb to 30 points a secondary achievement. In the 2026 Apertura, Boca did exactly what was required on the pitch, yet they still lost the primary prize of the group.
The cost of rotation and the struggle for control
The match in Santiago del Estero was a test of depth. The manager deployed an alternative lineup, utilizing rotation to manage the squad’s fitness and resources. The victory was built on efficiency—Alan Velasco opened the scoring with an effort that deflected off Yuri Casermeiro, and Milton Giménez provided the cushion after a cross from Exequiel Zeballos.
Despite the result, the manager viewed the performance with a critical eye. The victory was not a clean sweep; Central Córdoba managed to pull one back through Michael Santos, creating a tension that lasted until the final whistle. In the post-match press conference, the manager expressed a bitter taste
regarding the team’s inability to kill the game earlier.
“First of all, the satisfaction of having won the match, which in the end is the most important thing. Within this rotation, it is also important that all the players get minutes, and that helped us as well,” Claudio Úbeda, Boca Juniors Manager
The manager’s analysis centered on the lack of sharpness in the closing stages. While he praised the collective effort, he noted that the team should not have suffered late in the match, especially since the opposition’s goal came from a set piece—one of very few real chances for the home side.
“Obviously, what we want is to try to control the match better in the second half so we do not have to go through these kinds of situations that can lead to an equalizer near the end. From that standpoint, I really value the team’s overall performance.” Claudio Úbeda, Boca Juniors Manager
From a squad-management perspective, however, the experiment was a success. The manager highlighted that the internal competition provided by non-starters helps raise the overall level of the team, noting the importance of the squad depth displayed in Santiago del Estero as the tournament moves into the playoffs.
The mathematical wall of Zona A
For the Xeneize, the 30-point finish is a strong mark, but the gap to Estudiantes proved insurmountable. The La Plata side showed why it led for much of the tournament by securing that final 2-0 win, sealing the top spot in the group. For Boca, the focus now shifts from the unattainable first place to the status of second.
The standings are not yet settled. While Estudiantes is safely at the summit, Boca’s position as runner-up depends on a result involving Vélez Sarsfield. OneFootball reports that Vélez, currently sitting at 27 points, remains the only team capable of pushing Boca down to third place.
The gap in goal difference is the primary shield for the team from La Ribera. Boca finished the regular season with a +13 goal difference, while Vélez holds a +6. To overtake Boca, the Liniers side would need a result of historic proportions in their match against Newell’s Old Boys.
Resilience after the Libertadores setback
The victory over Central Córdoba served as a necessary rebound for a team that had recently seen its 14-match unbeaten run snapped. A 1-0 loss to Cruzeiro in the Copa Libertadores had left questions about the team’s momentum, and the win in Santiago del Estero got the team back on track.
The match was decided by a few key moments of individual brilliance and defensive resilience. While the attack found its mark, the defense had to withstand pressure. Goalkeeper Leandro Brey played a role in preserving the lead with a save on Santos following a lateral throw-in move. On the other side, the match was kept tight by Alan Aguerre, who denied Miguel Merentiel with two one-on-one saves.
This efficiency-over-volume approach allowed Boca to secure the points without needing a dominant spell of control. The manager was quick to defend the team’s overall play, ensuring that the bitter taste
of the late tension was not mistaken for a poor performance.
“Let’s not confuse that bitter taste with things having gone badly, no. The team played well, the team won, the team created chances,” Claudio Úbeda, Boca Juniors Manager
As the dust settles on the regular phase, Boca finds itself in a strange position: victorious on the field, yet forced to wait on the results of others to confirm their standing. The focus now turns to the Monday clash between Vélez and Newell’s Old Boys, which will finally determine the hierarchy of Zona A.