Rewrite of Superclásico History Between Boca Juniors and River Plate

The classic rivalry between Boca Juniors and River Plate

The rivalry known as the Superclásico spans more than a century and stands as the most watched fixture in Argentine football.

Boca Juniors and River Plate headline the country’s most significant derby. The teams have met for over 100 years across amateur and professional eras, in domestic clashes, international fixtures, and friendly games.

The Superclásico history at La Bombonera

In 2022, the teams faced each other twice with Boca taking both wins. On March 20, Boca won 1-0 in the Professional League Cup at the Monumental, and on September 11 Boca again triumphed by the same score at La Bombonera in the league match. In the first game of 2023, River Plate secured a 1-0 victory with a late penalty converted by Miguel Borja.

With another Superclásico approaching, this overview revisits the full history of the country’s fiercest rivalry, both locally and in international competition, and notes how each side has led the head-to-head tally in different eras.

GENERAL HISTORY (OFFICIAL MATCHES)

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Since 1908, through May 7, 2023, River Plate held a slight edge in competitive league matches with Boca Juniors; the two clubs have met 260 times in official fixtures, with River holding a small lead in wins.

HISTORY IN THE LOCAL CHAMPIONSHIP

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Across 215 league encounters, Boca Juniors leads with seven more wins than River Plate. Of these, 205 matches occurred in the professional era, featuring 75 Boca victories, 67 River Plate wins, and 63 draws. In the amateur period, there were 10 matches, with River Plate claiming 4 wins, Boca Juniors 3, and 3 draws.

The most recent league meeting was on the 15th date of the 2023 Professional League, a 1-0 River Plate win with a goal by Miguel Borja.

HISTORY IN INTERNATIONAL COMPETITIONS

They have clashed 32 times internationally, including 28 Copa Libertadores meetings, two matches in the 2014 Sudamericana, and two in the 1994 Super Cup. Across all competitions, Boca Juniors leads by one win in the head-to-head tally.

All of Boca Juniors’ Libertadores victories came in this competition, while River Plate has nine Libertadores wins and one in the Sudamericana. In the Super Cup, both teams have drawn once, with Boca advancing on penalties in one of those ties.

The most recent continental meeting occurred in the 2019 Libertadores semifinals, where River Plate and Boca Juniors split the leg wins, with River Plate earning a 2-1 aggregate advantage.

HISTORY IN THE LOCAL CUP

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River Plate holds a slight edge in the local cup format, leading Boca by two wins across a total of twelve matches. The encounters span both amateur and professional eras, including the Adrián Escobar Cup in 1942, the British Competition Cup in 1946, the 1993 Centenario Cup, the 2017 Argentine Super Cup, the Maradona Cup phase, the 2021 Professional League Cup, and the 2019/21 Argentine Cup round of 16.

The most recent meeting in this competition was on March 20, 2022, when Boca Juniors claimed a 1-0 victory at the Monumental in the Professional League Cup.

FRIENDLY HISTORY

In exhibitions outside official competition, Boca holds a narrow advantage of five wins across 124 encounters.

After a long tradition of friendlies between these two giants, no meeting outside official competition has occurred since January 21, 2018, when River Plate won 1-0 in Mar del Plata. The last period when the two clubs did not play friendly matches for more than four years occurred between 1970 and 1974.

GENERAL HISTORY (INCLUDING FRIENDLY MATCHES)

When all matches are counted, including both competitive and friendly fixtures, Boca Juniors holds a clear edge in the long run, yet the balance shifts depending on the competition and era.

Source: Goal