Boca Juniors edged River Plate 1-0 in the ‘Superclasico’ of the 15th round of the Apertura. Leandro Paredes sealed the win from the penalty spot after a Lautaro Rivero handball; Eduardo Coudet’s side protested a late, uncalled penalty.
A ‘Superclasico’ that gained intensity and tension as the minutes ticked by. The match began cautiously, progressed to a decisive blow, and concluded, as ever, steeped in the controversy that always surrounds the game that brings Argentina to a standstill. Leandro Paredes lived up to his surname, ‘tearing down the walls’ of the Monumental to secure a 1-0 victory for Boca Juniors over River Plate in a match from the 15th round of the Apertura Argentina. And the focal point, where euphoria met outrage, was the penalty spot.
This is because Dario Herrera did not hesitate to award a penalty for a Lautaro Rivero handball, who intercepted a shot from Miguel Merentiel. It was the moment the Xeneize captain stepped up to find the rival net. The drama, however, was reserved for the dying moments, almost an hour later. The referee showed no such conviction regarding a push by Lautaro Blanco on Lucas Martinez Quarta in the visitors’ box – a moment open to interpretation, but certainly worthy of a call and VAR review.
Fortune smiled upon Boca Juniors, but the tactical analysis of the derby has left Eduardo Coudet under pressure. The ‘Millonario’ side failed to rise to the challenge, displaying the worst aspects of ‘Chacho’s’ project since his arrival. On the grand stage, his plan crumbled against the opponent’s solid approach. Leandro Paredes dictated the tempo and made the difference, while Lautaro Di Lollo was a giant in protecting the box.