Boca Juniors came back from 0-1 down to defeat Barracas Central 3-1 in a postponed Torneo Clausura match. Goals from Milton Giménez, with a brace, and Miguel Merentiel secured the win at Estadio Claudio Tapia. The victory places the Xeneize second in the annual table, nearing qualification for the 2026 Copa Libertadores.
The match, played on October 27, 2025, at Estadio Claudio 'Chiqui' Tapia, was from matchday 12 of the Torneo Clausura and had been postponed due to the death of Miguel Ángel Russo, former Boca coach, on October 8.
Barracas Central opened the scoring at the 20th minute of the first half with a stunning goal by Rodrigo Insúa from 35 meters, beating Agustín Marchesín. Tensions rose early: at the 2nd minute, Rafael Barrios punched Miguel Merentiel, but referee Nicolás Lamolina missed it and VAR did not intervene. At the 6th minute, Leandro Paredes and Iván Tapia received yellows in a clash; Tapia got his second at the 13th minute and was sent off, leaving Barracas with 10 players.
In the second half, Boca equalized at the 8th minute with a goal from Milton Giménez off a rebound, and at the 11th minute Giménez headed in a cross from Juan Barinaga for 2-1. Miguel Merentiel made it 3-1 at the 21st minute with a low cross from Exequiel Zeballos. Interim coach Claudio Úbeda made changes, including Zeballos for Williams Alarcón.
With this win, Boca's first comeback of the year, the team reaches 53 points and climbs to second in the annual table, behind Rosario Central, now controlling its own path to the 2026 Copa Libertadores. Paredes, with his fifth yellow, will miss the next game against Estudiantes but could play in the Superclásico against River. Úbeda said on the suspension: 'We knew it.' Meanwhile, Barracas complicates its standing, finishing tenth in its zone per some reports, though table details vary.
The match was intense and sparked social media reactions, with memes about players like Marchesín, Lamolina, and Paredes.
