In the wake of Boca Juniors’ 2022 Professional League victory, Xeneize ended a seven-year stretch without beating River Plate at home, a notable milestone in one of world football’s fiercest rivalries.
The Superclásico, staged in La Bombonera, has long been recognized as one of the most watched sports clashes globally. Across its lengthy history, Boca Juniors and River Plate have met more than 100 times at this venue, a rivalry deepening the aura of the Argentine football landscape and underscoring Boca’s enduring home-field edge in head-to-head play.
WHAT IS THE GENERAL HISTORY OF THE SUPERCLÁSICO?
The rivalry extends far beyond wins and losses, shaping a narrative of dominance and resilience for both clubs. The 2022 1-0 win by Boca ended a seven-year streak during which River Plate failed to win at the Alberto J. Armando stadium in Buenos Aires. Before that September 11, 2022 encounter, River Plate’s most recent triumph at that venue came in the 2015 championship with a 2-0 scoreline, courtesy of Cristian Pavón and Pablo Pérez. Since then, six matches at Boca’s ground produced four draws, including a 0-0 stalemate in the 2016 league, a 2-2 draw in the 2020 Maradona Cup, and two 1-1 results in the 2021 League Cup, while River also won twice away in the 2016/17 and 2018/19 seasons.
The 2022 victory for Boca, sealed by a goal from Darío Benedetto, extended River Plate’s winless run at Boca’s stadium. Núñez’s side has not celebrated a goal there in six visits, a drought that includes a 2-2 draw in the first leg of the 2018 Libertadores final, the 1-0 loss in the semi-finals of the same tournament in 2019 (though River advanced to the final on aggregate), a 2-2 draw in the first leg of the 2020 Maradona Cup, a 1-1 draw in the 2021 Copa de la Liga interzonal, and a 1-1 draw followed by a 4-2 penalty loss in the quarterfinals of the same competition.
The win by Benedetto did more than add three points; it reinforced Boca’s consistency in this storied feud and highlighted River Plate’s struggle to secure a favorable result at the rival’s ground in modern clashes. The historical balance is often cited to illustrate how the Superclásico transcends a single competition and becomes a test of mental strength for both teams.
IN THE FIRST DIVISION
Across all official AFA First Division encounters in La Boca, the rivalry spans 95 meetings, a count that reflects a broader history of matches beyond the current stadium’s era, which began with its 1945 opening. Notably, a 1919 draw, later annulled due to the football disruptions between 1919 and 1926, is often mentioned in historical recaps. The most recent domestic meeting produced a 1-0 Boca win on September 11, 2022, with the scorers being Bo
Dario Benedetto and another contributing effort.
IN INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENTS
On the continental stage, the two giants have clashed 16 times across CONMEBOL competitions, with 14 Libertadores duels, one Super Cup, and one Copa Sudamericana appearance. River Plate’s record internationally shows a rare victory at the Alberto J. Armando in the 2019 Libertadores semifinal second leg, a 1-0 result that nonetheless did not derail Boca’s overall advantage in the head-to-head ledger in the same global era. The 2-0 win in the first leg of that Libertadores tie helped River advance to the final on aggregate, underscoring the high drama that characterizes these intercontinental battles.
IN NATIONAL CUPS
In domestic cups outside the league, Boca Juniors and River Plate have met five times, spanning formats like the 1915 Competencia Cup, the 1993 Centenario Cup, the 2020 Maradona Cup, and two matches in the 2021 Professional League Cup. Each of these meetings ended level, including a remarkable 1-1 draw in the 2021 LPF Cup quarterfinals, with Boca advancing on penalties.
GENERAL HISTORY OF THE SUPERCLÁSICO IN LA BOMBONERA
When looking at all matches played at Boca’s home ground, the hosts hold a pronounced advantage. The head-to-head record at La Bombonera places Boca ahead by a substantial margin, often cited as a clear indicator of home-field influence within this historic fixture.
For fans and analysts alike, the Superclásico is more than a series of goals and standings. It is a narrative of pride, strategy, and the changing tides of Argentine football, with each meeting adding another layer to its legend. The rivalry continues to captivate audiences across Argentina and around the world, illustrating why this clash remains a cornerstone of the sport’s global storytelling. (Goal)