Hope returns: Boca open Libertadores v Católica, chasing a seventh | OneFootball

This Tuesday, Boca Juniors begins its journey in Group D of the Copa Libertadores. The “Xeneize” will visit Universidad Católica in Chile, in a match scheduled for 9:30 PM (Argentina time).

The game will be played at San Carlos de Apoquindo Stadium. The officiating crew will be Uruguayan, with Gustavo Tejera on the field and Christian Ferreyra in charge of VAR.

Return to the group stage

Boca returns to the group stage of the continent’s most important tournament after three years of absences and frustrations. In 2024, it played in the Copa Sudamericana, and in 2025 it suffered an early elimination against Alianza Lima.

The obsession with the “Seventh” is still alive: the club has not lifted the trophy since 2007. Since then, it reached the finals in 2012, 2018, and 2023, but failed to win the title.

How Úbeda’s team arrives

Head coach Claudio Úbeda comes in with a fully fit squad. For the debut, the manager rested the usual starters in the recent 1-0 win over Talleres de Córdoba.

The starting lineup is expected to feature names such as Leandro Paredes in midfield and the attacking duo of Miguel Merentiel and Adam Bareiro.

The opponent’s current form

For its part, Universidad Católica is going through a great spell. The team coached by Daniel Garnero is coming off a 6-1 thrashing of Palestino in the Chilean league, where it sits in third place.

The Chilean side will include familiar faces from Argentine football, such as Gary Medel, Fernando Zuqui, and top scorer Fernando Zampedri.

Match details

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