Boca Juniors Crushed 3-0 by Riestra in Torneo Clausura Debut as Focus Shifts to Copa Sudamericana Decider

Boca Juniors endured a humbling start to the Torneo Clausura on Sunday, falling 3-0 to Deportivo Riestra at the Estadio Guillermo Laza in Pompeya. The defeat, one of the heaviest in recent memory for the Xeneize, came just days after a positive result in the Copa Sudamericana and forced manager Rodolfo Arruabarrena to publicly shoulder the blame.

The loss leaves Boca with no margin for error as they prepare for the decisive second leg of their Copa Sudamericana tie against Chile’s O’Higgins on Thursday. Arruabarrena made seven changes to the side that beat O’Higgins in the first leg, a decision that backfired badly.

The defeat

Boca never found their rhythm against a compact and aggressive Riestra side. The home team took the lead in the first half through Braian Sánchez, doubled the advantage with a strike from Antony Alonso, and sealed the win with a third goal from Alexander Díaz. The Xeneize offered little in attack and were second-best in midfield throughout the 90 minutes.

Arruabarrena’s tactical gamble – rotating the starting lineup heavily – was intended to keep players fresh for the Sudamericana decider. Instead, it produced a disjointed performance that the coach admitted was entirely his responsibility.

Arruabarrena’s reaction

Speaking after the match, Arruabarrena did not hide his disappointment. “I take full responsibility for this result,” he said. “The changes didn’t work, and the team never responded. We have to change the mindset quickly because Thursday is a final for us.”

The Vasco, as he is known, also explained that the rotation was necessary to manage the squad’s workload, but he acknowledged that the execution was poor. The priority now is the Copa Sudamericana, where Boca hold a narrow lead from the first leg but face a dangerous opponent on their home turf.

Looking ahead to O’Higgins

Thursday’s match in Chile will determine whether Boca advance to the next round of the Copa Sudamericana. The first leg at La Bombonera ended in a 2-1 win for Boca, but O’Higgins scored an away goal and will be confident after a strong domestic campaign.

Arruabarrena is expected to restore his strongest lineup for the trip to Rancagua. The team’s performance against Riestra, however, raised concerns about form and cohesion. Key players such as Edinson Cavani, who was rested on Sunday, will likely return. The midfield and defensive organisation will need to be much sharper to avoid another upset.

Key facts

What this means for Boca

The defeat is a serious setback in the domestic league, where Boca had hoped to make a strong start under Arruabarrena. The Torneo Clausura is still in its early stages, but losing ground early puts pressure on the team to string together wins in the coming weeks.

More importantly, the performance raises questions about squad depth and the manager’s ability to rotate effectively. With the Copa Sudamericana representing a realistic path to silverware, Arruabarrena must now ensure that the heavy rotation does not undermine the team’s confidence ahead of the biggest game of the week.

For Boca fans, the loss to a modest side like Riestra is a painful reminder that the rebuild under Arruabarrena is still a work in progress. The focus now is on Rancagua, where a disciplined and focused performance will be needed to keep the Sudamericana campaign alive.

Source: Ole (https://www.ole.com.ar/boca-juniors/boca-riestra-torneo-revancha-ohiggins-ultimas-noticias-lunes-27-julio_0_jj0EU2zEGl.html)