Boca Juniors edge River Plate to retake top spot in fiery Superclasico

Boca Juniors moved back to the top of the Argentine annual standings after beating River Plate 1-0 in a tense Superclasico at La Bombonera on Sunday.

Lautaro Di Lollo scored the only goal of the game as Boca claimed three crucial points in the penultimate round of the Argentine Clausura. The match ended with River down to nine men after Lucas Martinez Quarta was sent off in the ninth minute and Gonzalo Montiel received a red card in the 79th minute.

The victory took Boca to 60 points in the annual table, one ahead of Rosario Central. Rosario Central had moved temporarily into first place by beating Sarmiento 2-1 on Friday.

Boca will now take that narrow advantage into the final round, when they face Defensa y Justicia on 08 November 2026. A win would secure first place, although the destination of the annual title will be decided by the final set of fixtures.

The result also strengthens Boca’s position across several competitions during a decisive stage of the campaign. The club have already booked their place in the Copa Sudamericana final, where they will meet Atletico Mineiro in Barranquilla on 21 November.

Before that final, Boca are due to play Banfield in the semi-final of the Copa Argentina on 14 November. They have also secured qualification for the next edition of the Copa Libertadores, ensuring their involvement on multiple fronts continues beyond the current campaign.

River, meanwhile, were left with a more difficult task after losing the derby. Their points total remained at 23 in Group Two, meaning they must avoid defeat against Aldosivi in the final round to guarantee progression to the next stage of the Clausura.

River’s meeting with Aldosivi is scheduled for 08 November 2026. The Clausura represents the club’s final opportunity to rescue a season that has become increasingly difficult following their defeat by their city rivals.