Boca's ratings from the win over Barcelona at La Bombonera | OneFootball

Boca got off to the best possible start in the 2025 Copa Libertadores, as the opening win in Chile against Universidad Católica was followed by a 3-0 victory over Barcelona of Ecuador at La Bombonera. With this result, the Xeneize remain top of their group, pending the match in Brazil between Cruzeiro and UC.

The team from La Ribera put in an excellent display at home, clearly dominating both the game and the scoreboard. Although they struggled to find their rhythm early on, they grew into the match as the minutes passed and ended up deservedly thrashing the Ecuadorians.

Agustín Marchesín (5)

Very little time to be assessed. He went off injured after 10 minutes of the first half, showing signs of pain in his knee. He left in tears, but before that he could be seen telling his teammates: "I tore it". He had returned against Independiente after recovering from a grade 3 muscle tear in 20 days.

Marcelo Weigandt (5)

He justified winning the spot over Barinaga. His drive is his greatest strength and it showed in the match, though he mixed good and bad moments, albeit with plenty of solidity defensively. He did not push forward much, but when he did, he did so wisely. On the plus side: he improved when it came to linking up, in this case with Ascacíbar and Aranda when the latter drifted over to his side.

Lautaro Di Lollo (8)

Boca’s center-back was a beast in both boxes. He opened the scoring with an incredible header and completely shut down Benedetto and Cano. He never looked troubled and came close to getting his second personal goal, once again through the air.

Di Lollo opened the scoring for Boca against Barcelona. Photo: Gerónimo Marino/La Número 12.

Ayrton Costa (7)

Solid in defense, he also dared to play much farther forward and had no trouble getting back. In addition to joining the attack, he also made several interceptions in the opposition half. This is the Costa from a few months ago after a slight dip in form.

Lautaro Blanco (7)

Lautaro hit the mark, and that made the difference in Boca’s win. Great cross for Di Lollo on the first goal, but for the second he went one step further: a ball that looked to be going out over the byline turned into a perfect cross for Ascacíbar to score the second. Precise and decisive, just as Boca’s left-back has to be.

Milton Delgado (7)

He is the definition of consistency; it feels like he never has a bad game. It is not normal to see such a young player handle the ball with so much composure, contest every challenge without recklessness, and be so precise when winning it back, while always making himself available. Boca’s excellent collective level is a result of his contribution: Paredes can push forward without worries because Delgado is behind him.

Leandro Paredes (8)

Pure class, and a player far above this level. He played as if he were in his own backyard, with passes that are not normal to see in South America. On top of that, he is the team’s engine, dictating the tempo, paying attention to every detail, and running as if he were just another player despite being the star.

Santiago Ascacíbar (9)

The Ruso must have dreamed since childhood of playing at La Bombonera in a Boca shirt in the Copa Libertadores, but he could never have imagined such a perfect debut. He was the standout because it felt like there was more than one Ascacíbar on the field, operating as a box-to-box midfielder with tremendous energy. He linked up with Weigandt on the right, covered for Paredes and Delgado, but also got into the box, which is how the second goal came about. The best player on the pitch, and he even dared to try an overhead kick.

Tomás Aranda (5)

He lost the ball just a few minutes after kickoff and never recovered. He was lucky the move did not end in a goal, but from that point came the team’s worst spell. He dropped out of the rhythm and only had a few sporadic connections afterward. He improved in the second half and had the chance to score the second in a one-on-one with the goalkeeper, but finished poorly.

Miguel Merentiel (5)

He had the first one: he won the race, cut inside, and went for a left-footed shot that went just wide. He used his pace to win individual duels, but he was not sharp in front of goal. He wasted a one-on-one and several dangerous chances. He never lacked effort, although his level is a bit low right now.

Adam Bareiro (6)

He was booked before the first minute for an elbow. The Paraguayan only lacked a goal, as he won a lot of balls with his back to goal. He battled hard with the center-backs and forced a great save from Contreras with a header from a Paredes cross.

Leandro Brey (6)

He came on because of Marchesín’s injury and had a fairly quiet night. Very little action throughout the match, with a few crosses claimed and growing confidence as the minutes passed. A bit shaky with the ball at his feet, and now he will have the responsibility of finally making Boca’s goal his own once and for all.

Exequiel Zeballos (5)

He came on for Merentiel to use his pace against tiring opponents. He had a few sporadic moments, but could not show his best version, although he is getting back into rhythm after recovering from injury. He set up Velasco for what could have been the 3-0.

Ander Herrera (7)

Ander’s quality does not need half an hour to earn a passing grade, much less when you add the great goal he scored to seal the match and make it 3-0. It was his first goal for the club that made him cross the ocean to South America instead of taking Saudi millions. He’s class.

Alan Velasco and Milton Giménez (-)

Although they came on at the same time as Herrera, they did not have much impact. Velasco had a shot that could have been the third and missed, although there had been an offside beforehand. Not much else, though they are both still building rhythm after returning from injury.

Claudio Úbeda (7)

The game plan was right. He still needs to fine-tune the role of the two strikers, even though tactically their work is what frees up the midfielders to get into the box. Maybe that would have worked better if Aranda had not lost touch with the ball after his mistake.

Úbeda is going through his best moment as a coach. Photo: Gerónimo Marino/La Número 12.

He got the substitutions right, although even if he had not made any, it would not have been wrong either: Boca played well, and the system, the idea, and the names all worked. Now they go into another Superclásico, this time at the Monumental, with the perfect chance to finally mend his relationship with the fans.

Keep reading:

Bad news for Boca: Agustín Marchesín’s severe injury confirmed

Claudio Úbeda analyzed the thrashing of Barcelona and looked ahead to the Superclásico

They come in fired up: Boca thrashed Barcelona on the eve of the Superclásico

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.