Boca Juniors take another step towards ending silverware drought

In 2014, a young coach named Marcelo Gallardo made headlines when he led River Plate to a Copa Sudamericana title in his inaugural season at the Monumental. The victory over Boca Juniors in the semi-finals Superclásico was a pivotal moment, igniting a decade of success for River. Fast forward to 2026, and Gallardo's protégé, Rodolfo Arruabarrena, stands at the Bombonera Stadium once again, with the goal of leading Boca Juniors to their first international title since 2008.

Boca recently secured their spot in the Sudamericana semi-finals by defeating São Paulo over two legs. In the second leg, defender Leandro Lozano broke free down the middle and scored the decisive goal with 60 minutes left. The match was marked by tension, last-minute nerves, and some rough play, but Boca emerged victorious. Coach Arruabarrena expressed his ambition after the final whistle, stating, "We have to win something this year," and with good reason.

The team is currently active in three fronts: the Sudamericana, Copa Argentina, and the league's Clausura phase. While the last title came in 2022, this Boca Juniors squad exhibits the resilience and spirit needed to break the long-standing silverware drought.