Boca Juniors cruise past Deportivo Recoleta with a commanding 4-0 win
On August 18, 2026, Boca Juniors delivered a spectacular performance at the Defensores del Chaco stadium in Asunción, Paraguay, defeating Deportivo Recoleta 4-0 in the second leg of the Copa Sudamericana round of 16. The aggregate score of 7-1 underscored the Xeneize's dominance and secured their place in the quarterfinals.
The goals were scored by Santiago Ascacibar, Sebastián Villa, Miguel Merentiel, and Alan Velasco, capping a memorable night for the club and its supporters.
Coach Arruabarrena’s tactical masterclass
Head coach Rodolfo Arruabarrena expressed his satisfaction in a press conference: “I am very happy about the match the team played. From the first moment we felt comfortable on the field and always controlled the game.”
He emphasized the team’s maturity: “We played an intelligent match, we didn’t let nerves get the better of us. We know that with the Boca jersey, there’s more to lose than to win.”
Arruabarrena’s impressive record in knockout matches with Boca now stands at six wins in seven Sudamericana ties, demonstrating his tactical acumen in high-pressure situations.
Sebastián Villa’s emotional return
A standout moment was Sebastián Villa scoring his first goal since rejoining the club. The Colombian forward apologized to the fans after his strike, and Arruabarrena backed him up: “We know what he has given and what he has worked for to be back at Boca. I am happy for him because he has earned it.”
Enner Valencia’s debut
Enner Valencia, the experienced Ecuadorian striker, made his debut in a Boca shirt during the match, playing over 30 minutes. The coach said: “He came on well, but he still needs to adapt. He is very self-critical, and you can see his top-level quality.”
Player ratings and key stats
According to TyC Sports, the highest-rated players were: Ascacibar (9), Villa (8.5), Velasco (8), and Arruabarrena (9). The central midfielder Ascacibar scored his fifth goal in six matches and once again proved to be the team’s engine.
Absences for the Racing classic
Despite the celebration, the coach confirmed that Leandro Paredes, Marco Pellegrino, and Leandro Lozano will not be available for the classic against Racing on Sunday, August 23. This will test the squad’s rotation.
In the quarterfinals, Boca will face São Paulo, who eliminated Bolívar. The first leg will be played at La Bombonera and the second at Morumbí.
Sources: ESPN and TyC Sports