75-year hoodoo: Vasco take on Boca Juniors; all fixtures

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Papo na Colina

·16 September 2026

75-year hoodoo: Vasco take on Boca Juniors; all fixtures

Vasco will face the mission of breaking a 75-year historic taboo when they take on Boca Juniors in the semifinals of the Copa Sudamericana. Since their first meeting 91 years ago, in 1935, the two traditional South American clubs have produced memorable clashes on the continent, but the overall record shows a clear disadvantage for the Brazilian side, which has won only once in the history of the matchup and is looking to end the long drought in the decisive matches in October.

The rivalry officially began on January 27, 1935, when the Cruz-Maltino squad hosted the Argentines at São Januário and drew 3-3 in a friendly. In the following years, the Buenos Aires side got the better of most of the continental meetings, collecting wins in Montevideo and in Rio de Janeiro until the peak of the most successful team from Vasco’s early history.

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In the 2001 Copa Libertadores, Juninho Paulista faced star playmaker Juan Roman Riquelme – Photo: Reproduction

Expresso da Vitória claimed historic win

The only victory for the Gigante da Colina over Boca Juniors came on November 24, 1951, in a magical afternoon for the legendary Expresso da Vitória at the Maracanã. On that occasion, the home side won 3-0 with two goals from Ipojucan and one from Friaça, fielding a historic lineup made up of Barbosa, Augusto and Clarel; Eli, Danilo Alvim and Jorge; Tesourinha, Ipojucan, Friaça, Jansen and Chico.

After that memorable performance, the balance of power swung back toward the visitors over the following decades, with draws in friendlies in Argentina and setbacks in international tournaments in Spain and Venezuela. The most notable reunion came in the quarterfinals of the 2001 Libertadores, with Argentine wins of 1-0 in Rio and 3-0 at La Bombonera, in addition to a 2-2 draw in the Copa Mercosur that same year.

Riquelme and Odvan faced each other in the 2001 meetings – Photo: Reproduction

List of all matches in history:

01/27/1935 – Vasco 3 x 3 Boca Juniors – Friendly – São Januário (Rio de Janeiro)
02/06/1947 – Boca Juniors 3 x 1 Vasco – Copa do Atlântico – Centenario (Montevideo)
09/01/1948 – Vasco 3 x 5 Boca Juniors – Friendly – General Severiano (Rio de Janeiro)
11/24/1951 – Vasco 3 x 0 Boca Juniors – Friendly – Maracanã (Rio de Janeiro)
01/25/1953 – Vasco 4 x 4 Boca Juniors – Rio Quadrangular – Maracanã (Rio de Janeiro)
01/21/1958 – Boca Juniors 2 x 2 Vasco – Friendly – La Bombonera (Buenos Aires)
01/28/1958 – Boca Juniors 1 x 1 Vasco – Friendly – La Bombonera (Buenos Aires)
01/14/1961 – Boca Juniors 2 x 0 Vasco – Summer Octagonal – La Bombonera (Buenos Aires)
08/27/1980 – Boca Juniors 2 x 1 Vasco – Naranja Trophy – Mestalla (Valencia)
02/11/1983 – Vasco 2 x 2 Boca Juniors – Simón Bolívar Bicentennial – Barquisimeto (Venezuela)
05/23/2001 – Vasco 0 x 1 Boca Juniors – Copa Libertadores – São Januário (Rio de Janeiro)
05/30/2001 – Boca Juniors 3 x 0 Vasco – Copa Libertadores – La Bombonera (Buenos Aires)
07/28/2001 – Boca Juniors 2 x 2 Vasco – Copa Mercosur – São Januário (Rio de Janeiro)
09/24/2001 – Boca Juniors 2 x 2 Vasco – Copa Mercosur – La Bombonera (Buenos Aires)

25 years after the last match and 75 years without beating the xeneizes, the group coached by Pedro Emanuel has the ideal setting to rewrite the history of this clash between the two South American giants. The chance to end the negative streak and advance to the continental final makes the October semifinal one of the most eagerly awaited moments of the season at São Januário.