The Professional Football League announced that the Superclasico between Boca Juniors and River Plate will be played on Sunday, November 9, at 16:30 in La Bombonera, for matchday 15 of the Clausura Tournament. Both teams are seeking key points in the annual table to qualify for the 2026 Copa Libertadores, with Boca leading by one point. The match arrives at a critical moment for the continental aspirations of the historic rivals.
The Clausura Tournament of the Professional League enters its final stretch, and the Superclasico on matchday 15 promises to be decisive. Boca Juniors, with 53 points in the annual table and in second place, hosts River Plate, which has 52 points and is in the playoff zone. Both clubs need wins to secure qualification for the 2026 Copa Libertadores, as the top spot seems headed to Rosario Central.
Before the clash, Boca will visit Estudiantes de La Plata this Sunday, a key Group A match after their recent win against Barracas Central. River, meanwhile, will host Gimnasia y Esgrima de La Plata at the Monumental, amid an irregular semester marked by their elimination from the Copa Argentina against Independiente Rivadavia on penalties. Boca failed to qualify for the last two editions of the Copa Libertadores, while River lost a direct chance last week.
Historically, La Bombonera has favored Boca, with 52 home wins against 20 for River and 33 draws. However, the last two Superclasicos at the Xeneize stadium ended in favor of the Millonario: 2-0 in 2023 with goals from Salomon Rondon and Enzo Diaz, and 1-0 in 2024 thanks to Manuel Lanzini. Boca's last home win was in 2022, 1-0 with a goal from Dario Benedetto.
The referee has not yet been officialized, but the main candidates are Nicolas Ramirez—who is leading—, Yael Falcon Perez, and Facundo Tello. The official will have to handle the pressure of a match loaded with rivalry and criticism over refereeing decisions in previous encounters.