Who leads the Superclásico? History, myths and truths of Boca v River

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La Número 12

·17 April 2026

Who leads the Superclásico? History, myths and truths of Boca v River

Boca is putting the finishing touches on the Superclásico that will take place this Sunday, April 19, at the Más Monumental Stadium. The team coached by Claudio Úbeda hopes to keep the good results going after opening the Copa Libertadores de América with two wins.

In that sense, ahead of a new edition of the most important match in Argentine football, it is worth revisiting the head-to-head record between Boca and River. Also, to debunk the most widespread myths that tend to resurface at times like this and highlight the truths many want to hide.

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The Superclásico head-to-head record

Throughout the entire history of the rivalry between Boca and River, the teams have faced each other 265 times. Xeneize won 93 times, Millonario claimed 88 victories, and they drew on 84 occasions.

The latest edition of the Superclásico was played at La Bombonera on Matchday 15 of the 2025 Torneo Clausura. On November 9 of that year, the team led by Claudio Úbeda beat the side still managed at that time by Marcelo Gallardo, 2-0.

The team from La Ribera delivered a great performance against the side from Núñez and celebrated thanks to goals from Exequiel Zeballos and Miguel Merentiel. In addition to the win, that day Sifón’s team secured qualification for the continent’s most important competition, leaving Millonario to play in the Sudamericana.

The overwhelming gap in the dominance

For more than 30 years, Boca have held uninterrupted dominance over River. In the overall record, the team from Núñez was ahead at first until Xeneize changed the story starting on October 27, 1946.

Boca have led the head-to-head record against River for more than 30 years.

In 1986, the Millonarios regained the lead, although they were never more than one match ahead. However, that joy only lasted until 1990, because one year later, the team from La Ribera returned to the top, where it still remains. In this way, Boca held the upper hand for 76 years, while River only managed to be ahead for 36.

Does the amateur era not count?

One of the most commonly used arguments by the other side when talking about the Superclásico record and titles won is to downplay what happened during the amateur era.

However, for both AFA and FIFA, the titles and matches from the amateur era (before 1931) are official. Back then, River led the head-to-head record (4 wins to Boca’s 3), but when everything is combined, Boca still holds the overall advantage.

The ghost match

Within the history of the Argentine football Superclásico, there is a “ghost” match. It was the game played in 1919 at Boca’s old stadium on Ministro Brin and Sengüel.

That year was chaotic due to the split in the Asociación Argentina de Football and ended with the annulment of the Primera División tournament. That is why it is not counted in the overall record, although it ended in a 0-0 draw anyway.

The Supers across two divisions

When talking about Superclásicos, it is impossible not to think of the Copa Luis B. Nofal. This friendly tournament, played from 2011 to 2017 between Argentina’s two most popular teams, had a special twist in 2012.

It was the first Superclásico in the entire history of Argentine football to be played between two teams from different divisions. Boca, as throughout its entire history, was part of the Primera División, while River had been visiting every stadium in the national second tier since August 2011.

In 2012, Boca swept the summer series against a rival from another division. On January 25 at the Centenario Stadium in Resistencia, Nicolás Blandi scored a brace for the first Xeneize win. The dominance was confirmed four days later at the Malvinas Argentinas Stadium in Mendoza with another victory, this time by the narrowest of margins, thanks to a goal scored by Pablo Mouche.