Vélez Sarsfield and Boca Juniors clashed in Liniers for the fourth matchday of the 2026 Apertura Tournament, both vying for the top spot in Zone A. The game, broadcast on TNT Sports, featured a dull first half with no goals, as Guillermo Barros Schelotto faced his former team for the first time as coach. Boca is advancing negotiations for Edwuin Cetré amid the competition.
The matchup between Vélez and Boca took place at the José Amalfitani Stadium in Liniers for the fourth matchday of the 2026 Apertura Tournament in the Argentine Professional Football League. Vélez arrived with seven points and Boca with six, so the winner would top Zone A by the end of Sunday.
Vélez's lineup was: Álvaro Montero; Joaquín García, Emmanuel Mammana, Lisandro Magallán, Elías Gómez; Claudio Baeza, Tobías Andrada; Manuel Lanzini, Diego Valdés, Matías Pellegrini and Florián Monzón, coached by Guillermo Barros Schelotto, who faced Boca for the first time as manager since leaving in 2018.
Boca fielded Agustín Marchesín; Juan Barinaga, Lautaro Di Lollo, Ayrton Costa, Lautaro Blanco; Santiago Ascacíbar, Leandro Paredes, Milton Delgado; Gonzalo Gelini, Miguel Merentiel and Kevin Zenón, led by Claudio Úbeda. Merentiel recovered from a tear and started.
Nazareno Arasa refereed, with Nicolás Ramírez on VAR. The game began with no danger in the first 17 minutes. Vélez threatened with Florián Monzón's headers at minutes 28 and 45, both close but off target. Manuel Lanzini shot from distance at 24', without direction.
At halftime, it was 0-0 in a first half described as boring. In the second half's start, Iker Zufiaurre headed for Boca at minute 2, inaccurately, and Ayrton Costa missed at 5'. Diego Valdés softly headed for Vélez at 8' of the first half.
In recent history, Boca won seven of the last 13 games against Vélez, with four draws and two losses, including the latest 4-3 in the 2024 Copa Argentina.
Off the pitch, Boca reached an agreement to sign Edwuin Cetré from Estudiantes, freeing a spot due to Rodrigo Battaglia's injury, which will sideline him for six months. Boca's Edinson Cavani attended the stadium to support his teammates and greeted Miguel Merentiel.
Social media buzzed with memes and reactions during the match, highlighting fans' humor.
