In a controversy-filled Superclasico, Boca Juniors defeated River Plate 1–0 on Sunday evening at La Bombonera in the 15th round of Argentina's Clausura tournament. Referee Nicolas Ramirez issued a red card to Lucas Martinez Quarta Quarta as early as the 10th minute and sent off Gonzalo Montiel in the 79th, leaving River to finish the match with just nine players. Boca's winning goal came courtesy of center-back Lautaro Di Lollo, who converted a header in the 27th minute.
Early red card shakes up the match
The turning point of the match arrived with Martinez Quarta Quarta's early dismissal. The referee determined that the defender fouled Miguel Merentiel while he was through on goal. Ramírez initially let play continue, but after VAR official Silvio Trucco called him to the monitor for a pitchside review, he returned to brandish a straight red card at the River defender.
Boca swiftly capitalized on their numerical advantage to break the deadlock. Colombian winger Sebastian Villa whipped in a corner kick from the right flank in the 27th minute, allowing Di Lollo to outleap Lautaro Rivero - who had been subbed on for Lucas Beltran to plug the defensive gap - and power his header past Santiago Beltran. Following the opener, Boca maintained control through sustained possession and created several dangerous opportunities, though River managed to hold on until halftime trailing 1–0.
In the second half, Leonardo Ponzio introduced Lautaro Ferreira for the young Lucas Silva in a bid to inject creative spark into midfield. River pushed forward with greater urgency, yet struggled to carve out clear chances in the final third. Midway through the second half, the Millonarios bench vociferously demanded a red card for Leandro Paredes following a challenge on Tomas Galvan, claiming it warranted a second booking. Paredes had already been cautioned late in the first half following an altercation with Marcos Acuna.
River suffered another critical blow when fullback Gonzalo Montiel committed a heavy tackle on Lautaro Blanco. Ramírez immediately judged it dangerous play and brandished his second red card of the match. Despite Boca holding a two-man advantage in the closing stages, the match saw out its final minutes without further goalmouth drama, allowing the hosts to comfortably lock down the victory.
Standings shift after dramatic finish
The result significantly reshapes the standings: Boca reclaimed top spot in the annual table with 60 points, holding their destiny in their own hands heading into the final round to finish first. Conversely, River virtually surrendered their hopes of qualifying for the Copa Libertadores through the annual standings, remaining stuck in eighth place with 52 points. Boca has already guaranteed its qualification for the continental showcase.
In the upcoming round, Boca takes on Defensa y Justicia, while River travels to Mar del Plata to face already-relegated Aldosivi.