Boca Juniors and Independiente drew 1-1 at the end of the first half in their classic for matchday 14 of the Torneo Apertura, played at La Bombonera. Matías Abaldo opened the scoring for the Rojo at the 9th minute of the first half, while Milton Giménez equalized from the penalty spot at the 55th. Independiente coach Gustavo Quinteros was sent off for protesting.
Boca Juniors hosted Independiente at La Bombonera for matchday 14 of the Torneo Apertura. The Xeneize is unbeaten in eight league games, with 20 points in third place in Zone A. Independiente, coached by Gustavo Quinteros, recently beat Racing 1-0 in the Avellaneda classic.
Boca coach Claudio Úbeda made eleven changes to the starting lineup due to the tight schedule between Copa Libertadores and the domestic league. Boca fielded Agustín Marchesín; Juan Barinaga, Nicolás Figal, Marco Pellegrino, Malcom Braida; Ander Herrera, Camilo Rey Domenech, Tomás Belmonte, Alan Velasco; Ángel Romero and Milton Giménez. Independiente started with Rodrigo Rey; Santiago Arias, Kevin Lomónaco, Sebastián Valdéz, Facundo Zabala; Iván Marcone, Mateo Pérez Curci, Maximiliano Gutiérrez, Ignacio Malcorra; Matías Abaldo and Gabriel Ávalos.
The match, refereed by Andrés Merlos with Lucas Novelli on VAR, saw alternating dominance. At the 9th minute of the first half, Matías Abaldo scored 1-0 for Independiente off a Maximiliano Gutiérrez cross deflected by Gabriel Ávalos and a rebound against Marchesín. Boca chased the equalizer with chances from Alan Velasco and Milton Giménez, but Rodrigo Rey made key saves.
At the 54th minute, Merlos awarded a penalty for Sebastián Valdéz's foul on Alan Velasco, confirmed by VAR, and Giménez converted it at the 55th for 1-1. Quinteros was sent off for protesting. In the second half, Miguel Merentiel missed a one-on-one, Abaldo shot wide, and Kevin Lomónaco suffered an injury at the 27th minute, replaced by Juan Manuel Fedorco.
