Boca Juniors beat Olimpia de Paraguay 2-1 in their final preseason friendly at Estadio Único de San Nicolás. Alan Velasco and Tomás Belmonte scored for the Xeneize, with an own goal by Juan Barinaga giving the early lead to the Paraguayan side. Concern mounted as Miguel Merentiel was substituted early due to physical discomfort, just a week before the Torneo Apertura opener.
The match, played on January 18 at 9 PM and broadcast on Disney+, served as the final test for coach Claudio Úbeda ahead of the opener against Deportivo Riestra on January 25 at La Bombonera. Boca lined up with Agustín Marchesín in goal; Juan Barinaga, Nicolás Figal, Ayrton Costa, and Malcom Braida in defense; Ander Herrera, Leandro Paredes, and Tomás Belmonte in midfield; and Alan Velasco, Miguel Merentiel, and Exequiel Zeballos up front.
Olimpia, under Pablo Sánchez, fielded Gastón Olivera; Raúl Cáceres, Juan Ángel Vera, Mateo Gamarra, and Aníbal Chalá at the back; Juanfer Alfaro, Juan Fernando Alfaro, and Hugo Quintana in midfield; and Iván Leguizamón, Sebastián Ferreira, and Franco Alfonso in attack.
The game started with Barinaga's own goal at the 11th minute of the first half, off a deflected cross. Merentiel requested a substitution at the 15th minute due to discomfort, replaced by Lucas Janson, raising alarms in the club just a week before the tournament. Velasco equalized at the 27th with a shot from outside the box that rebounded, and Belmonte turned the score around at the 34th with a header assisted by Zeballos.
The second half had few thrills, holding the 2-1 scoreline. Agustín Marchesín made a key save at the 47th to secure the win. This victory contrasts with the 0-0 draw in the first friendly against Millonarios, where Zeballos missed a penalty.
Boca arrives with key absences due to injuries: Edinson Cavani (lumbago), Carlos Palacios (synovitis), Milton Giménez (pubalgia), and Rodrigo Battaglia (Achilles tendinopathy), with no confirmed return dates. Olimpia, with more match fitness after drawing 0-0 and losing 4-3 on penalties to Colo Colo in the Río de la Plata Series, put up resistance but couldn't come back.
