Boca Juniors beat River Plate 1-0 at Monumental as Paredes penalty ends River’s nine-match unbeaten run
Leandro Paredes’ spot-kick sealed a 1-0 away victory for Boca Juniors over River Plate, ending River’s nine-match unbeaten run and delivering Eduardo Coudet his first loss as coach. The decisive penalty, awarded after a VAR check for a Lautaro Ribeiro handball, arrived just before half-time and proved enough to settle a charged Superclásico at the Estadio Monumental. Boca’s disciplined defensive display and clinical counterattacking maintained the narrow lead as River pressed without creating a clear equaliser.
Paredes penalty decides Superclásico at Monumental
Leandro Paredes, wearing the captain’s armband, converted the penalty calmly moments before the break, giving Boca Juniors the slender advantage that ultimately decided the match. The goal silenced the home crowd and shifted momentum, with players and supporters at the Monumental reacting visibly to the VAR ruling. That strike marked the difference in a fixture that was otherwise tight and cagey, with both teams showing restraint in possession and intensity in duels.
VAR ruled handball by Lautaro Ribeiro before half-time
Match officials turned to the video assistant referee to examine a loose ball in the box and ruled that Lautaro Ribeiro had handled the ball inside the penalty area. The VAR intervention prompted the spot-kick decision and left River with little time to respond before the interval. The use of technology was decisive and underscored the fine margins that separated the two sides in this high-profile encounter.
Early blow as Sebastián Driussi exits injured
River Plate looked to start strongly but lost their early attacking spark when Sebastián Driussi was forced off with an injury in the opening stages. The forward’s departure reduced the hosts’ offensive options and hampered their ability to unsettle Boca’s backline. Coudet’s side attempted to adapt by shifting personnel and increasing pressure, but the absence of Driussi’s movement and finishing presence was felt throughout the contest.
Beltrán’s saves and Boca counterattacks shape second half
In the second half, Boca sought to extend their advantage through rapid transitions while River pushed numbers forward in search of an equaliser. Santiago Beltrán, River’s goalkeeper, produced several important saves to keep his team within touching distance and denied Boca clear opportunities on the break. Despite sustained pressure from the hosts, the visitors defended compactly and relied on counterattacking bursts to relieve pressure and threaten on the break.
River’s late appeals fail; no VAR review in stoppage time
As the game entered stoppage time, River Plate mounted frantic appeals for a penalty that were ultimately dismissed by the referee and were not referred to the VAR bench. The late controversy added to the tension inside the Monumental but did not alter the final outcome. River’s final attempts lacked a clear-cut opening, and Boca were able to regroup defensively to see out the closing minutes.
Standings impact in the Apertura groups
The result leaves River Plate second in Group B of the opening tournament on 26 points, while Boca Juniors climb to third in Group A with 24 points. The narrow victory carries important implications for both sides as they chase favourable positions in their respective groups and seek momentum moving into the next fixtures. For River, the defeat represents a setback in a campaign that had been steady under Eduardo Coudet, while Boca will take confidence from a resilient away performance in one of Argentine football’s biggest encounters.
The match underlined the slender margins of Superclásico football, where a single VAR decision and an accurate penalty can determine the narrative of the evening. Boca Juniors leave Buenos Aires with three points and a clean sheet, while River Plate must regroup quickly as the season progresses.