Boca Juniors vs Racing Club: A 110-Year Argentine Football Rivalry

The rivalry between Boca Juniors and Racing Club spans more than a century, with the Ribera club currently holding the edge in head-to-head meetings.

These two storied teams share one of the oldest rivalries in Argentine football. Official clashes began in 1908, and because they are geographically close and were two of the most successful clubs in the early 20th century, their rivalry has grown into a legendary fixture that has endured for over 110 years.

Throughout history, Boca Juniors and Racing Club have faced each other more than 200 times across local championships, national cups, and international competitions.

Next up, view the full history of Boca and Racing clashes.

GENERAL HISTORY (OFFICIAL MATCHES ONLY)

From the inaugural meeting on December 6, 1908 at the GEBA stadium to today, Boca and Racing have met 212 times, with Boca having a notable advantage of 22 wins.

The most recent encounter across all competitions ended in a 3-1 victory for Racing at La Bombonera during the 2023 Professional League season.

RECORD IN LOCAL TOURNAMENTS

The majority of their clashes have occurred in the national league, with an interesting note that the first four games of the Second Division happened in 1908, 1909, and 1910. In total, both clubs played 13 matches in the amateur era, with Racing holding the edge, and 173 matches in the professional era, where Boca dominates. In total, Boca leads by 25 matches across all local competitions.

The most recent local clash was a 3-1 Boca victory in the 2023 Professional League at La Bombonera.

RECORD IN NATIONAL CUPS

As two of the most successful clubs in domestic cup history, Boca and Racing have a long pattern of meetings in national competitions. Racing holds the overall edge with seven wins in these formats.

The latest meeting occurred in the 2022 International Super Cup in Abu Dhabi, where Racing won 2-1.

RECORD IN INTERNATIONAL CUPS

Boca and Racing have faced each other five times in CONMEBOL-organized tournaments. They met three times in the Libertadores and twice in the Super Cup. Boca holds the larger share of success with four wins to Racing’s one in these events.

The last duel came in the 2020 Copa Libertadores quarter-finals: Racing won 1-0 in the first leg, Boca answered with a 2-0 victory in the return at La Bombonera, advancing to the semi-finals. Three years later, they met again in the same stage of the tournament.

DIRECT ELIMINATION MATCHES

Across national and international cups, Boca and Racing have played 15 direct elimination ties, typically one or two legs per tie. Four of these were finals, with Racing holding an 8-7 edge in head-to-head series. Racing collected victories in the Champions Trophy and the 2022 International Super Cup, while Boca’s sole final win came in the 2012 Argentine Cup final, 2–1.

Overall, Racing has eight wins in series to Boca’s seven, with the Ribera club winning both instances when two-leg ties occurred.

Racing has claimed victories in the 1914, 1919, and 1933 Competition Cups, the 1945 British Competition, the Adrián Escobar 1946, the 2021 Professional League, the 2022 Champions Trophy, and the 2022 International Super Cup. Boca has taken the 1918 Competition, the 1944 British Competition, the 1945 Republic, Argentina 2012, the 2022 Professional League cups, and the two-leg wins in international ties such as the 1989 Super Cup and the 2020 Libertadores.

HISTORY IN FRIENDLIES

Apart from points races, Boca and Racing share a long history of unofficial meetings that began in 1909. The two clubs have not met in an exhibition match since 2016, when Racing won 4-2 in Mar del Plata.

The head-to-head in friendly encounters favors Racing by a 6- to- win margin.

GENERAL HISTORY (OFFICIALS + FRIENDLIES)

When all matches between Boca and Racing are counted from the 1908 meeting to today, regardless of whether points were at stake, Boca holds a lead of 28 wins in total.

Source: Goal