Boca Juniors Secures Quarterfinal Berth in Clausura Playoff with Merentiel Double

Boca Juniors Advances to Clausura Quarterfinals

Boca Juniors secured their place in the quarterfinals of the Argentine Primera División Clausura tournament with a decisive 2-0 victory over Talleres de Córdoba. The match, held on Sunday, November 23, 2025, at Boca's home ground, La Bombonera, saw Uruguayan forward Miguel Ángel Merentiel net both goals for the 'Xeneizes'.

Merentiel's Brace Seals Victory

The opening goal came in the 28th minute of the first half. Following a corner kick, a header from Lautaro Di Lollo rebounded off the crossbar, and Merentiel was quick to react, heading the ball into the net. Just before halftime, Talleres had a significant opportunity to equalize when they were awarded a penalty. However, Mateo Cáceres's shot from the spot was expertly saved by Boca Juniors' goalkeeper, Agustín Marchesín, preserving Boca's lead.

The second half began with immediate impact from Boca Juniors. Only 19 seconds after the restart, Merentiel struck again, converting a precise cross from Lautaro Blanco to double his team's advantage and complete his brace. This performance marked a crucial contribution from the forward, propelling his team further into the competition.

Tournament Structure and Next Steps

The Clausura tournament playoffs are contested in a single-elimination format, with matches played at the stadium of the team that finished higher in the regular season standings. In the event of a draw after 90 minutes, an additional 30 minutes of extra time are played, followed by a penalty shootout if the score remains tied.

With this victory, Boca Juniors now advances to the quarterfinals, where they are scheduled to face Argentinos Juniors. The upcoming match will determine which team progresses to the semifinals in their quest for the Clausura title.