Boca fight back to draw at Platense as Merentiel ends drought | OneFootball

Boca Juniors came from behind to draw 1-1 at Platense in Vicente López in the fifth round of the Torneo Clausura 2026, marking Martín Palermo’s return to the Calamar bench. Miguel Merentiel levelled and snapped a six-match barren run.

Platense struck soon after half-time through Franco Retamar following a mistake by Leandro Lozano, and Boca had already lost Marco Pellegrino to a muscle issue in the back of his right leg at the end of the first period. According to LaNumer12.com.ar, goalkeeper Juan Cozzani’s resistance denied the visitors several times.

The equaliser arrived when Tomás Aranda lofted a precise pass for Santiago Ascacíbar to cushion into the box, leaving Merentiel to finish and end his drought. Leandro Paredes had earlier felt muscle discomfort and did not reappear for the second half.

VAR later ruled out what would have been 2-0 to Platense for a handball by Giménez soon after Dylan Gorosito came on. In the first half, Álvaro Montero produced his best display since joining, including a spectacular flying save and a late double stop.

Aranda shone after the break in a classic number 10 role, while Ascacíbar again impressed driving forward. Sebastián Villa struggled to influence the game. With the Sudamericana return against Recoleta ahead, Rodolfo Arruabarrena resisted rotation, then injury-enforced changes sharpened Boca’s attack, but the winner eluded them.

Source: LaNumer12.com.ar

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