00:07It is match day two of the 2026 Conway Bowl Libertadores in Buenos Aires and it's the kind of challenge
00:14which is just has no place in the game and it's never necessary.
00:17Here's Benedetto now with his first meaningful touch on the ball. Benedetto! First sighted goal. He did have Cano in
00:26support but he will be on a mission to score.
00:29against his former club, Dario Benedetto.
00:38Which is quite the week for Boca this week with this return to Libertadores action in the Superclasico at the
00:44weekend.
00:45Now there's a real opening here for Merentiel. It's still Merentiel! He just can't quite get the curve on it.
00:58He did score a wonder goal in the World Club Championship against Bayern Munich. The Uruguayan only had one thing
01:09on his mind.
01:12Just wayward with the shot.
01:17For their part, as you see Benedetto there, Barcelona have scored first in each of the last three away games
01:25in the Libertadores.
01:27Cerro Porteño, the Paraguayans got a good result at home to Junior. The Colombians 1-0. Three points staying in
01:34Asuncion there.
01:38Later this evening we've got Liga de Quito against Mirasol. The Ecuadorians taking on the Brazilians. There's Universitario versus Coquimbo
01:45Unido. Peru versus Chile there.
01:49And also being played right now is BolÃvar against Deportivo La Guaida.
01:56A busy night in the Libertadores and his match day two is Merentiel now. Looks to create something. Open header.
02:03Free header for Ascacibar.
02:05Could only put it straight into the hands of Contreras.
02:14It wasn't a cross that had real power on it. There's a lot of work still to be done.
02:21Nonetheless, Ascacibar unable to at least force Contreras to stretch. Really worked for that save.
02:31First sight of goal though for Boca Juniors. Certainly from that kind of position. Aranda. Blanco.
02:42He's happy to go up on the wing. I say he's happy. Who knows. He gets up the wing and
02:47back down an awful lot.
02:50Lautaro Blanco, the 27-year-old, made his debut for Rosario Central. His professional debut that is.
02:58Once on the cusp of the national team. Quite broke into Scaloni's thinking. The left back.
03:05Certainly shows real industry down that left flank. Not a good cross. Bit of fortune for Boca though to continue
03:12this.
03:13Keep this attack alive. It's another poor cross. Aranda. Fares who scored from this kind of position last week.
03:33It's deep. New to everyone.
03:40And it's safety first from Milton Delgado. But you could just hear from the stands there the disappointment that choice
03:47of pass.
03:47choosing to go good 30 yards back. Rather than continue to attack. However, the attack is still on.
04:02Blanco. That's a better ball. Ah, it is. Boca's first.
04:08That's what was needed. Quality on the cross. And quality in the area. Boca. Take the lead.
04:18Against Barcelona at the Bombonera. It has been coming.
04:30Just as we were talking about. That's the conservative approach.
04:37They continue searching for the goal. But moreover, it's the quality of the cross. That we've been discussing.
04:46That's a great header from Delolo.
04:59Power. And direction.
05:05Relief for Boca as they take the lead.
05:11Rolldown brings proceedings in this first half to an end. It is Boca juniors in the driving seat.
05:18They're one.
05:20Looks like Barcelona looking to really beef up there. The right-hand side of this pitch.
05:26As we're back underway in Buenos Aires, there's their nettle. But it's early, early on.
05:31And Boca will only expect them to progress, to grow in their play.
05:40As there's an opening here for MedNTL. Real opportunity for the second. Excellent save from Contreras. Did really well, sir.
05:46It is easy to forget that Boca juniors take part in the competition last year.
05:54In the group stage, that is. Crashed out of the qualification phase against Alianza Lima. The year before that, they
06:00were not involved in the Libertadores.
06:02Down the space and deny the Uruguayan.
06:17Balls to MedNTL.
06:23Balls to MedNTL.
06:25Ascasiva!
06:34Lovely movement and skill and agility from Ascasiva.
06:42The space for Delgado. And the space for Aranda. And the save from Contreras.
06:49He saved them on a number of occasions. Despite three centre-backs and two wing-backs.
06:58Still Barcelona leaving gaps in defence for Boca Juniors to attack.
07:05And when you look at the space and time that Aranda had.
07:08Wonderful.
07:19More changes being prepared for Barcelona. As we're coming up to the hour mark.
07:27The Ecuadorian still a goal down.
07:30And do look like conceding any time soon.
07:33MedNTL.
07:35Lovely ball in. Great save by Contreras.
07:38That will not count.
07:39Judge to have fouled the goalkeeper.
07:42A great ball in from MedNTL.
07:51This comes back to what we were saying in the first half about when the quality is there in the
07:56delivery.
07:58That's when things can start happening.
08:07To the driving seat. This is Paredes in charge of the set-piece.
08:16Great save by Contreras.
08:21How about that for a delivery and a header.
08:27A real weapon for this Boca.
08:30Team though the deliveries from.
08:33From Paredes.
08:41Aranda seems to be struggling just to stay on side.
08:44This is Blanco.
08:47That's excellent.
08:49Castillo in defence.
08:57Aranda seems to be able to do with a bit of a break.
09:01And they will need him for the weekend.
09:06And it was at River Plate.
09:08So long ago.
09:13One of the minor details in the larger narrative of the historic rivalry between Boca, Juniors and River Plate.
09:25Blanco.
09:27Does well to get to the byline.
09:29It's a great ball in.
09:30And it's an even better header by Santiago Ascacibar.
09:34For Boca's second.
09:36And that surely wraps up all three points.
09:42A second assist for Lautaro Blanco.
09:50Whose industry and work rate has paid off and quite possibly been the difference between these two sides.
10:03Did really well to keep fighting, keep battling to get this ball.
10:10It delivers an excellent cross that's met by Ascacibar who also has been, had a fine game.
10:18And hasn't been lucky.
10:21Up until here.
10:23Showing signs of fatigue up front.
10:35Remember to Cruzeiro 1-0.
10:39Mina.
10:41That's the ball they needed.
10:44It's an excellent start to their campaign.
10:46Six points from six points.
10:49Clean sheet here at home.
10:55And across the, through the lines, a number of positives.
11:02This evening, Blanco on the left-hand side of defence.
11:06The most positive point, you'd say.
11:10With his two deliveries resulting in the goals.
11:17In midfield, Paredes.
11:19Quality's not disputed.
11:24Delgado looks to improve.
11:25Santiago Ascacibar certainly growing into his role in that midfield trio.
11:33And up front, Menentiel and Barrero off in different things.
11:38But then we're adding Aranda or Zervasos.
11:42There's that bit of magic and quality.
11:45As Velasco now looks up.
11:48The space on the edge of the box.
11:50Oh, that's a stunning third goal for Boca Juniors.
11:55Brilliant strike from range from the Spaniard and the Herrera.
12:00To cap off.
12:05A wonderful night at the Bombonera.
12:14Brilliant shot from the midfielder.
12:18Who's afforded acres of space and time.
12:22Just takes one look.
12:25Contreras was well and truly beaten.
12:29Great technique.
12:31And power on the shot.
12:34Real quality from the Spaniard.
12:38Wraps up the win.
12:41And in style for Boca.
12:54It's all done in Buenos Aires at the Bombonera.
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