Boca's player ratings from the win over Estudiantes de La Plata

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La Número 12

·6 August 2026

Boca's player ratings from the win over Estudiantes de La Plata

Boca debuted its 2026/27 season jersey with a win. They beat Estudiantes de La Plata 1-0 in the rescheduled Matchday 2 of the Torneo Clausura at Tomás Adolfo Ducó, where they played as the home side. Santiago Ascacibar scored the goal and followed the unwritten rule against a former club: he didn’t celebrate, and he apologized.

The Xeneize left behind the poor showing from the weekend against Newell’s and once again played its best football. Leandro Paredes, Milton Delgado, and the Ruso controlled the midfield. All three, performing at a very high level, allowed the team to function perfectly. Three key points to start climbing the Group A standings and move off the bottom.

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Álvaro Montero (6)

After two matches in which he raised more doubts than certainties, he was mainly responsible for keeping a clean sheet. He made three great saves in the first half: two against Carrillo and one on Tobio Burgos’ shot from outside the box. In the second half, he was a privileged spectator.

Leandro Lozano (5)

He had a solid match, but compared to his teammates he was the weakest in defense. At the back, he didn’t face too many problems. They only got past him once. Going forward, he pushed up intelligently to link up with Flores. He was part of Boca’s very long spell of possession that ended in the 1-0.

Lautaro Di Lollo (6)

He needed a match like tonight’s to regain confidence. He grew into the game. He won several aerial duels, complemented Pellegrino well, and once again showed that he deserves to be a starter.

Marco Pellegrino (7)

The best defender. He delivered a sensational performance. Unbeatable. Sharp in his marking. He intercepted several passes and won a huge number of aerial and ground duels. In the final minutes, he cleared everything that fell into Montero’s box.

Lautaro Blanco (6)

A good match from the left back, as he has us used to. Although he started a bit inaccurate, he settled into the game, won back several balls, and got forward in attack. He followed the play all the way on the goal and assisted Ascacibar.

Santiago Ascacibar (8)

He followed the unwritten rule against a former club. He broke free from midfield and got into the box. From the first minute, he showed himself as an option in attack and hinted at what was to come. In first-half stoppage time, he shaped his foot and struck it with the outside to make it 1-0. He also helped Paredes and Delgado a lot in midfield.

Leandro Paredes (8)

A great match from Boca’s captain. He dropped between the center backs to be the first outlet pass and face the field. He completely owned the midfield. Everything went through his feet. He stopped several Estudiantes attacks with sliding tackles. His timing was unmatched. He also played several long passes with his trademark touch. He was substituted in the closing moments.

Boca’s captain was once again the best player on the pitch. Photo: Marcelo Endelli/Getty Images

Milton Delgado (7)

Paredes described him as his “spare tire.” They complemented each other very well. He was always the first to step up on an opponent and stop Estudiantes’ attacks. He consistently made himself available as a passing option to start moves with off-the-ball runs. He tracked back and won a sensational ball right at the edge of the box. The Ruso’s goal started with one of his recoveries. He wore the captain’s armband in the final minutes after Lea went off.

Tomás Aranda (6)

For much of the first half, he drifted to the left and combined with Blanco to create 2-on-1 situations. But his best version came when he moved closer to the right to connect with Flores. After a series of passes and movements, he found space to deliver a deep cross for the left back, which led to the Xeneize goal.

Leonel Flores (7)

Boca’s main attacking threat. Every time the ball is at his feet, something is going to happen. Hugging the touchline, he easily beat the pressure from the La Plata defense with a nutmeg. He became unstoppable. He looked to combine with Lozano, and his best link-up came with Aranda on the 1-0. In the opening minutes of the second half, he had a move that nearly ended in a goal: he received on the left, cut inside, feinted, and the ball went just over the crossbar.

Miguel Merentiel (4)

He continues to perform at a very low level. He is the only reference in the box, a role in which he does not feel comfortable. Since he doesn’t receive any service, he drops several yards to get on the ball and create play. He wasted two attacks by misplacing the final pass. He needs the presence of a penalty-box No. 9 to be dangerous.

Sebastián Villa (3)

He played on the left. He received several balls, but struggled to get past the opposing defenders. He is low on confidence, and it shows. He couldn’t win a single duel.

Alan Velasco (5)

He came on very lively, eager to go after the second goal. He moved all across the front line. He had one shot that went wide and lacked power.

Kevin Zenón and Camilo Rey Domenech (-)

Too few minutes to be rated. The only noteworthy action was a through ball from Zenón to Velasco.

Rodolfo Arruabarrena (7)

El Vasco made three changes compared to the draw with Newell’s: the returns of Lozano and Delgado, and Pellegrino coming in for Costa. The adjustments paid off. He made four substitutions, with Velasco gradually starting to regain confidence, and he will look to reintegrate Rey Domenech into the first team.