In the final home game of the year, Boca Juniors secured a narrow victory through a second-half penalty and kept their hopes alive in the fight for a spot in the 2024 Copa Libertadores. The win, though achieved by the smallest of margins, reaffirmed the club’s persistence as the season nears its end.
The team from the Ribera region remains in contention for Libertadores qualification via the league table, even though the Argentine Cup is traditionally the most direct path to the continental competition. A victory in the 13th round of the League Cup, paired with the results around them, left Boca with a real, albeit slim, chance to climb onto the annual Libertadores list, adding a layer of drama to the closing stages of the campaign.
The League Cup 2023 encounter between Boca Juniors and Newell’s Old Boys unfolded as a game of muted tempo and missed opportunities. Mariano Herrón’s side earned all three points through a penalty converted after a foul against Miguel Merentiel, who stood firm to dispatch the spot-kick and seal the win. The sequence illustrated Boca’s ability to seize critical moments when the pressure lines up just right.
As the season advances toward its final date, Boca finds themselves with limited prospects of reaching the quarter-finals of the league tournament. Yet their position in the accumulated table keeps them in the discussion for continental participation. They sit three points behind Rosario Central, the last team currently positioned for the Libertadores, and two points adrift of Estudiantes and San Lorenzo. Even a narrow margin can prove decisive in a race that tightens with every game.
Although overtaking Rosario Central remains a challenging task, the possibility persists and could gain significance with subsequent results. The team’s supporters and staff remain focused on accumulating points in the remaining fixtures, aware that every match could tip the balance in their favor and influence the final table that determines Libertadores access.
Boca Juniors versus Newell’s Old Boys: minute-by-minute overview
Live summary, formations, goals and notable moments from the League Cup 2023 clash
- Merentiel converted a penalty, placing the ball firmly and opening the scoring for Boca.
- A decision in Boca’s favor resulted in a direct penalty against Newell’s after a ball-to-hand call inside the box.
- Edinson Cavani came close for Boca, testing the keeper with a header that produced a save or parry.
Starting XI for BOCA JUNIORS included Sergio Romero in goal, with a back line featuring Luis Advíncula, Nicolás Figal, Aaron Anselmino, and Marcelo Saracchi. Midfielders ran with Cristian Medina, Pol Fernández, Ezequiel Bullaude, and Valentín Barco. Up front, Edinson Cavani partnered with Miguel Merentiel. The coach overseeing the side was Mariano Herrón.
NEWELL’S Old Boys lined up with Lucas Hoyos in goal, a back four of Gustavo Velázquez, Ian Glavinovich, Leonel Vangioni, and Armando Méndez. The midfield trio consisted of Iván Gómez, Marcos Portillo, and Ángelo Martino, with Guillermo Balzi supporting Jorge Recalde and Cristian Ferreira in the attacking lines. The team was coached by Gabriel Heinze.
Source: Goal (Goal)