Boca Juniors confidently advanced to the tournament playoffs after a convincing away win over Defensa y Justicia. The match in Varela ended 4-0, allowing the team not only to strengthen its lead in the group but also to extend its unbeaten run to 13 games. This time, the coaching staff opted for a refreshed lineup, yet even with rotation Boca Juniors managed to show a high level of organization and cohesion.
In the first half, the home team pressed actively and created several dangerous chances. One of these almost resulted in a goal, but Defensa y Justicia’s strike was disallowed after a VAR review due to a marginal offside. This moment became pivotal: Boca Juniors quickly seized their opportunity. After a precise pass from Velasco, Giménez opened the scoring with a powerful shot that deflected off a defender.
Second half: the decisive attack
After the break, the game became even more dynamic. Defensa y Justicia pushed forward with greater numbers, but this opened up space for the visitors’ quick counterattacks. Boca Juniors made clever use of these gaps: Velasco doubled the lead, converting a one-on-one after a pass from Zeballos. Soon Bareiro and Merentiel brought the score to a rout, capitalizing on the home side’s defensive mistakes and their own freshness after substitutions.
Key match details
Despite the initial pressure from Defensa y Justicia, Boca Juniors did not allow their opponent to convert their chances. Timely substitutions and tactical flexibility from the coaching staff played a key role. Special mention should be made of the efforts of Belmonte and Ascacibar, who helped stabilize the midfield and speed up transitions from defense to attack. Towards the end of the match, the visitors completely controlled the game, and Merentiel, who scored the fourth goal, apologized to Defensa y Justicia fans for his previous stint at the club.
Context and comparison with other matches
The victory in Varela continued Boca Juniors’ successful run, which began after the crucial match against River Plate. Just as in Real Madrid’s recent meeting with Alavés, where the coach relied on a refreshed lineup and reinstated Tchouameni in midfield, the Boca Juniors coach was also not afraid of rotation, which brought results. More about lineup changes in Spanish football can be found in the article about the Real Madrid lineup changes before the match against Alavés.
