La Número 12
·12 aprile 2026
Boca's ratings in the draw against Independiente at La Bombonera

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Yahoo sportsLa Número 12
·12 aprile 2026

Boca extended its unbeaten run to eleven matches, but couldn’t end its winless streak against Independiente at La Bombonera. This time, on Matchday 13 of the 2026 Torneo Apertura, it was a 1-1 draw, with Milton Giménez scoring from the penalty spot, helping the blue-and-gold side stay third in its group, although it could drop places if Lanús or Defensa y Justicia win their matches.
The Xeneize put in a good performance with a completely rotated lineup, in which there were some strong individual displays and a few very poor ones. Below is the player-by-player analysis and ratings for Boca.
He returned from a muscle injury in record time and barely had any action. On the opponent’s goal, it feels like he was largely at fault, but the former Lanús man’s intention was to block Malcorra’s shot, and Malcorra mishit it.
A solid match. No major issues defensively. He kept things simple and looked to get forward, though without much precision when trying to find a teammate. He made a mistake on a first touch that could have resulted in a goal for El Rojo.
One of the best players on the pitch. Boca’s captain was solid in defense and completely shut down Ávalos. Dominant in the air, and he also dared to join the attack as a right back. Near the end, the rain-soaked pitch worked against him, he slipped, but avoided embarrassment thanks to the poor control of the Independiente player.
Improved as the match went on. He had a shaky, hesitant start, but grew into the game and ended up leaving a good impression. His lack of rhythm is noticeable, but he continues to push for a place ahead of Costa.
A solid performance with a few extra points. Very firm defensively, practically error-free. He could have done more when pushing forward, although he also didn’t find a partner to make the most of his flank.

Xeneize played a good match, but couldn’t come away with the win. Photo: Marcelo Endelli/Getty Images.
He returned to action and to the starting lineup after a long time out. He was tasked with controlling the middle of the park, and the inactivity showed. Even so, he justified being one of the first options in that area, as he showed why he broke into the first team at such a young age. With match rhythm, he could be a very interesting option.
The Spaniard is pure class, and he showed it. He was the team’s conductor, was very alert with his cover, and handled the opponent’s physical play without complaint. The best of his night: the dinked ball for Giménez and the pass that led to Boca being awarded the penalty.
A good match from the much-criticized Toto. He pulled off a precise nutmeg to face goal, but finishing is not his strong suit, as he missed a clear chance minutes later with a poor header. He found space and constantly asked for the ball, but the best part was that he always looked to link up with the Spaniard.
The surprise name in the starting eleven. His lack of match fitness was evident, and it hurt him when it came to showing his qualities. He couldn’t settle into the game except at the end of the first half. He lost several balls and tried to dribble past players in situations where he could have kept it simple. That said, he won the penalty that led to Boca’s equalizer.
He scored the equalizer with a well-taken penalty. He had some clear scoring chances but failed to make the most of them. The most important was a chipped pass from Herrera that left him one-on-one with Rey, but he tried to chip the keeper and sent it wide. He came off at halftime.
Lively across the entire front line. He tried to combine with Giménez, without success. He never had a clear chance in front of goal. He was also substituted before the start of the second half.
He was applauded by the fans before the game and when he came on. He wasted a counterattack and squandered several balls, like the one he didn’t play to an unmarked Velasco. He still hasn’t managed to show the level he had in mid-2025 and remains very erratic.
He battled hard against the center backs and kept fighting until the end of the match. He had a header that went wide and not much else. He lacked someone to play off of.
He got minutes again after his injury. He showed pace and his ability to beat defenders with his dribbling, but lacked a better finish to those attacking moves. Even so, it’s encouraging that he hasn’t lost his willingness to take on the opposing defense.
Very solid defensively, committed, and eager to be everywhere. He made good covering runs and looked to be another option in the box, but lacked precision with his passing. He wasn’t sharp in that regard, and it showed.
He came on in the closing moments. He positioned himself well and looked to connect with the fullbacks to stretch play and unlock the middle. He delivered a great cross for Bareiro’s header that went wide, and had a somewhat disoriented finish to the game, though without any major scares.
Before the match, Tomás Aranda was expected to play, but he opted for a rusty Velasco, and just when Velasco was at his best, he decided to take him off after noticing he was tired. Although the overall setup was good and several players responded well, the substitutions left the feeling of being correct, though late.

Claudio Úbeda. Photo: Gerónimo Marino/La Número 12.
The two-striker setup hadn’t delivered much in the first half either, though they were also lacking rhythm. The Merentiel-Bareiro partnership didn’t work without the youngster behind them, although he did get it right with Ascacibar and Delgado, who did their job.
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.


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