Boca Juniors Face O’Higgins in Must-Win Sudamericana Playoff After Three Seasons of Continental Disappointment

Boca Juniors are three years removed from a Copa Libertadores final appearance, and the distance from that peak has grown with every penalty shootout loss. On Thursday, they face O’Higgins in Rancagua in the second leg of the Copa Sudamericana playoff, carrying a 1-0 advantage from the Bombonera but also a history of recent continental collapse that makes this tie feel much larger than a single round.

Match context

The first leg ended 1-0 in Buenos Aires, a narrow margin that gives Boca control but little comfort. Leandro Paredes returns to the starting lineup after being rested for the domestic fixture, and the club’s regular starters are available. O’Higgins, the Chilean side, will push hard at Estadio El Teniente to overturn the deficit. The winner advances to the round of 16 of the Copa Sudamericana.

Boca’s continental struggles

The source of tension is not just the scoreline. Since losing the 2023 Libertadores final to Fluminense in extra time, Boca have failed to win a single knockout tie in South American competition. In 2024, they dropped to the Sudamericana after missing Libertadores qualification, finished second in their group, needed a playoff to eliminate Independiente del Valle, and then lost to Cruzeiro on penalties in the round of 16. In 2025, they failed to even reach the Libertadores group stage, eliminated by Alianza Lima in the qualifying phase, again on penalties.

This year, Boca returned to the Libertadores group stage but finished third behind Universidad Católica and two other teams, dropping into the Sudamericana playoff. The draw against Universidad Católica at home sealed their fate. The pattern is clear: good enough to reach decisive moments, but not consistent enough to win them.

What’s at stake in Rancagua

Thursday’s match is not about silverware; it is about avoiding another early exit that would prolong an already damaging narrative. Boca’s international credibility, especially in knockout rounds, has eroded. A win over O’Higgins would not erase the previous disappointments, but elimination would represent a fourth consecutive season of continental underachievement from a club that has won seven Libertadores titles and built its modern identity on South American success.

The absence of major overseas sales or squad turnover in recent windows puts additional scrutiny on the current group. Coach and players know that a loss in Chile would trigger further questions about the project’s direction.

Key facts

Why this matters for footballgames10 readers

Boca Juniors remain one of the most watched clubs in global football, and their performance in the Sudamericana directly affects the tournament’s narrative and the competitive balance of South American club football. Whether they advance or exit, the outcome will shape coverage of the round of 16 and beyond. Fans following the competition need to understand the stakes behind a seemingly routine playoff tie.

Source: Ole, “Contra su historia: la increíble racha copera que Boca necesita cortar en Chile” – https://www.ole.com.ar/boca-juniors/historia-increible-racha-boca-necesita-cortar-chile_0_iu5PK6cbAy.html