Boca’s ratings in the draw against Martín Palermo’s Platense | OneFootball

Boca grew into the game. In the fifth round of the 2026 Clausura Tournament, they drew 1-1 against Platense in Vicente López, with Martín Palermo returning to the Calamar bench. Miguel Merentiel scored the equalizer and ended a long negative streak of six matches without a goal.

It is gradually starting to seem normal for the Xeneize to begin at a disadvantage. A situation that quickly triggers the players’ reaction to go in search of the match. Although it took several minutes to find the goal, Rodolfo Arruabarrena’s team created a large number of chances to take all three points, but ran into the defensive performance of goalkeeper Juan Cozzani. Below are Boca’s ratings in the draw against the Calamar.

The match highlights.

Álvaro Montero (7)

Not at fault for the goal. His best match since arriving at Boca, although he still does not show the necessary confidence between the posts. During the first half he made three big interventions: an extraordinary flying save to tip it away from the top corner, he pushed a Giménez header over the bar, and made a double save near the end.

Leandro Lozano (4)

He had a good start to the match. He pushed forward intelligently. He beat his marker and sent a chipped cross to the far post, but with no proper target. As the minutes went by, he began to struggle defensively. At the start of the second half, the ball ricocheted off him, which led to Platense’s temporary lead. He could have redeemed himself, but the goalkeeper denied him the goal.

Lautaro Di Lollo (5)

He improved as the match went on. Mixed good moments with bad ones. He lost several duels, something unusual for him. In the opening moments he gave the ball away, though it did not lead to anything serious. He had a tough battle with Platense’s forwards. He settled down near the end and showed his defensive solidity.

Marco Pellegrino (6)

He got injured at the worst possible moment. On the final play of the first half, he stepped out to challenge and felt a strong muscle issue in the back of his right leg, then asked to be substituted. Just when he was regaining rhythm, his body let him down again.

Lautaro Blanco (5)

One of his weakest matches of the year. He had no problems in defense because Platense did not attack much down his side. And unlike other times, he had almost no impact on Boca’s attack. Although he got forward to combine with Villa, some of his crosses lacked accuracy.

Santiago Ascacibar (6)

Since the Vasco took over on Boca’s bench, he has been at an outstanding level. He breaks away from midfield and becomes an attacking option. In the first half he constantly got into the box. But in the second half — without Paredes — he was more cautious going forward. The two times he did push up were Boca’s most dangerous moments. First, he assisted Merentiel for the equalizer and then could have been key to the win.

Leandro Paredes (5)

He raised alarm bells ahead of the Copa Sudamericana clash. In the opening minutes he felt a muscle issue and played somewhat hampered in order to protect himself. He decided not to take corners, and most of the free kicks were short. He still tried some of the long passes that define him, as well as a shot from distance.

Milton Delgado (7)

A great match from Boca’s little engine. Knowing that Paredes was physically struggling, he took it upon himself to help him defensively against Retamar’s constant pressure. But after the captain went off, he became the team’s hub. Every move started from his feet and he controlled the tempo.

Tomás Aranda (8)

He struggled in the first half. He played as a false 9, behind the center-backs. He looked uncomfortable and unable to move freely. But in the second half (without Paredes and with Merentiel), he played as a classic No. 10. He was Boca’s standout player. He constantly asked for the ball and showed all his magic. He floated a precise pass for Ascacibar to bring down inside the box and set up the Beast for the equalizer. He had a few shots without much power.

Leonel Flores (6)

He had a tough battle with Tomás Silva. He found it very hard to beat defenders with his speed and dribbling. They read him well. The times he did manage it, he caused danger and was Boca’s most important player during the first 45 minutes. Fatigue caught up with him and toward the end of the second half he faded from the game.

Sebastián Villa (1)

Very far from the level he showed at Independiente Rivadavia in the first half of the year, which is why Boca’s president went after him. He cannot get past defenders, makes poor decisions, and focuses more on complaining than playing. It is hard to understand why he is still a starter.

Ayrton Costa (4)

The left-footer came on at halftime in place of Pellegrino. In his first involvement, he lost out to Giménez, which was the start of the move that ended in Retamar’s goal.

Miguel Merentiel (5)

He scored the equalizer and ended a six-match goal drought. He received the ball from Ascacibar inside the box and, with one touch, left the goalkeeper sprawling on the ground before finishing into an empty net. He wasted several chances to give Boca the win.

Dylan Gorosito (5)

He was saved by Giménez’s handball. In his first involvement after coming on for Lozano, he had a duel with the Platense forward, who chipped him inside the box and made it 2-0, but after a VAR review it was ruled out. Minutes later, he hit a volley that crashed against the post.

Alan Velasco (3)

He came on for Villa. Unlike other times, he did not have much impact off the bench. He lined up on the left, although he moved across the entire front line. He had the chance to give the Xeneize the win, but missed the target with the goal empty.

Rodolfo Arruabarrena (7)

Rodolfo Arruabarrena spoke at a press conference after the draw with Platense. Photo: Gerónimo Marino/La Número 12.

With an eye on the upcoming second leg against Recoleta in the Copa Sudamericana, the Vasco held nothing back and went all in. The only change was Merentiel coming out for Villa, which did not work in the first half, with Aranda as a false 9. In the second half he made the changes the match called for (forced by injuries), and Boca showed a different face. They threw themselves into attack with the hunger to take the win, although it was not enough.

Keep reading

When Boca will play again after the draw against Platense

Miguel Merentiel ended the streak: how long it had been since he last scored for Boca

They dropped 2 points again: Boca drew with Platense in Vicente López

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