Boca Goes for Qualification in Paraguay
This Tuesday, August 18, 2026, at 19:00 (Argentina time), Boca Juniors face Deportivo Recoleta at the Defensores del Chaco Stadium in Asunción, in the second leg of the Copa Sudamericana round of 16. With a 3-1 victory from the first leg at Tomás Adolfo Ducó, Rodolfo Arruabarrena's team aims to seal the series and advance to the quarterfinals.
The match will be broadcast live on ESPN and Disney+, with Uruguayan referee Andrés Matonte and Leodán González on VAR.
Boca's Absences and Doubts
Coach Rodolfo Arruabarrena will be without Leandro Paredes, Leandro Lozano, and Marco Pellegrino, all suffering muscle injuries from Saturday's 1-1 draw against Platense. The main question is who will replace Paredes in midfield: Tomás Belmonte or Camilo Rey Domenech are the options. In defense, Dylan Gorosito will come in for Lozano and Ayrton Costa for Pellegrino.
The big news is the presence of Enner Valencia in the squad for the first time. The Ecuadorian, along with Milton Giménez and Williams Alarcón, were included in the delegation that traveled to Paraguay. Youngster Facundo Herrera also traveled.
Boca's Possible Starting XI
According to the latest reports, the team could line up as: Álvaro Montero; Dylan Gorosito, Lautaro Di Lollo, Ayrton Costa, Lautaro Blanco; Milton Delgado, Tomás Belmonte or Camilo Rey Domenech, Santiago Ascacibar; Leonel Flores, Miguel Merentiel, and Tomás Aranda. Arruabarrena could opt for a 4-2-3-1 or keep the 4-3-3.
Recoleta, Going for the Heroic Comeback
The Paraguayan side, managed by Jorge González, needs to overturn the 3-1 deficit. In their first-ever Sudamericana campaign, Recoleta topped their group unbeaten, but they come into this match after a 2-1 loss to 2 de Mayo in the domestic league. For the return leg, they will be without Wilfrido Báez and Dairon Mosquera, both sent off in the first leg. Still, the players practiced penalties in case the tie goes to a shootout.
González admitted that it won't be easy to come back against a great team like Boca, but he trusts in a miracle.
The Winner Will Face São Paulo or Bolívar
The winner of this tie will meet the winner of the series between São Paulo and Bolívar in the quarterfinals.
Boca, who have only picked up 6 points from 15 in the Clausura, see the Sudamericana as their main objective this semester. Advancing to the quarterfinals would be a huge morale boost for Arruabarrena's side.
Sources: Olé | TyC Sports | TN | El Día