The Glory and Xeneize, who did not shoot at the goal throughout the match, finished even in a game that had a late disallowed goal for offside. Thus, the curtain fell on Sunday.
With renewed energy after overcoming the playoff of the Copa Sudamericana against Independiente del Valle, Boca drew 0-0 with Instituto in Alta Córdoba, in the eighth round of the 2024 Professional League.
The Xeneize had a higher percentage of possession but lacked depth and ended up playing further away from Manuel Roffo, to the point that they did not even shoot at goal. They only tried with a deflected header from Tomás Belmonte and a poor long-range shot from Lautaro Blanco in the first half. Edinson Cavani and Miguel Merentiel touched the ball very little, with Merentiel playing a bit further back.
Despite the difference in play, Diego Martínez’s team had some fortuitous situations that helped them keep the score at zero, such as a great save from Sergio Romero against a powerful header from Fernando Alarcón.
The other clear chances for La Gloria fell to Santiago Rodríguez and Ignacio Russo, whose offside prevented his teammate from scoring in a play where the rebounds favored the home team.
At the start of the second half, Boca began to arrive more and be more direct. Belmonte stole the ball after a blunder by Unión, and Cavani slipped as he dribbled and prepared to shoot.
Later on, the intentions shifted in Alta Córdoba. Santiago Rodríguez nearly placed it in the corner, and Braian Cuello tried a low shot that Romero saved.
Faced with the inability to break the deadlock, the match turned into a back-and-forth affair with fast transitions, more on the local side. A penalty was claimed on Gary Medel for an alleged grab on Jeremías Lázaro and, in the last play of the match, the linesman disallowed a goal against Romero for a clear offside by Gregorio Rodríguez.
With this result, Boca (still has their match against Banfield) is nine points behind Huracán (18), the leader, while Instituto sits fourth with 14 points.
22:23
The match is over!
Instituto and Boca drew 0-0 in Alta Córdoba.
22:21
46′ 2T: Goal disallowed for Instituto for offside
Gregorio Rodríguez was in an offside position: it was against Sergio Romero.
22:07
33′ 2T: Instituto claimed a penalty on Gary Medel for an incident with Jeremías Lázaro
The midfielder ended up on the ground during an aerial ball dispute. Referee Hernán Mastrángelo was very close to the play.
Instituto vs. Boca: La Gloria claims penalty
22:04
30′ 2T: High shot from Exequiel Zeballos
The execution was poor, and Jabes Saralegui wanted it.
21:56
22′ 2T: Sergio Romero blocked Braian Cuello’s shot low
The Boca goalkeeper responded again under the three posts.
21:48
14′ 2T: Dangerous placement shot from Santiago Rodríguez
The Instituto forward’s shot originated after a block from Damián Puebla on Edinson Cavani in the other area.
Instituto vs. Boca: the shot from Santiago Rodríguez
21:40
6′ 2T: Edinson Cavani slipped and couldn’t finish
Tomás Belmonte stole the ball after Unión’s blunder, but the Uruguayan couldn’t get a shot off.
Instituto vs. Boca: Edinson Cavani slips
21:34
The second half has started!
Jabes Saralegui came in for Julián Ceballos in Boca.
21:25
The first half is over!
Instituto and Boca are tied 0-0 in Alta Córdoba.
21:13
42′ 1T: Deflected shot from Lautaro Blanco
The Boca defender capitalized on the rebound after Fernando Alarcón’s header clearance.
21:08
36′ 1T: Great save from Sergio Romero
Center by Gastón Lodico, strong header by Fernando Alarcón and the ball goes to corner.
Instituto vs. Boca: the save by Sergio Romero against Fernando Alarcón
21:00
28′ 1T: Santiago Rodríguez, into Sergio Romero’s hands
The Instituto forward cut inside and tried with his left foot.
20:56
24′ 1T: Boca, disarmed in defense and almost a goal for Instituto
Santiago Rodríguez’s shot was a goal, but Ignacio Russo, offside, prevented it. The rebounds decisively favored the local team.
Instituto vs. Boca: the shot from Santiago Rodríguez
20:55
23′ 1T: Header deflected by Tomás Belmonte
The Boca midfielder won his duel inside the area after a corner.
20:48
16′ 1T: Lautaro Blanco kicked Jonás Acevedo when he was already on the ground
Referee Hernán Mastrángelo had already called the foul on the Boca defender, who was booked.
20:47
15′ 1T: Boca claims a penalty for an alleged handball
The controversy arose from a corner from the left.
Instituto vs. Boca: penalty appeal
20:45
13′ 1T: The first risky play was for Instituto
Ignacio Russo took a left-footed shot from a half-turn, and the ball went just over.
Instituto vs. Boca: the shot from Ignacio Russo
20:43
10′ 1T: A start with many inaccuracies
Boca tries to circulate the ball, Instituto waits and takes advantage of some lapses.
20:30
The match has started!
Instituto and Boca are already measuring up in Córdoba, for the eighth round of the 2024 Professional League.
20:21
Players from Boca and Instituto come out to warm up
The players from Xeneize and La Gloria are on the field for pre-match movements.
20:13
Confirmed lineup for Boca vs. Instituto, for the Professional League
Sergio Romero; Lautaro Di Lollo, Gary Medel, Marcos Rojo, Lautaro Blanco; Tomás Belmonte, Guillermo Fernández, Julián Ceballos, Brian Aguirre; Miguel Merentiel and Edinson Cavani.
20:08
Confirmed lineup for Instituto vs. Boca, for the Professional League
Manuel Roffo; Juan Franco, Fernando Alarcón, Gonzalo Requena, Jonathan Bay; Jonas Acevedo, Nicolás Dubersarsky, Gastón Lodico, Damián Puebla; Santiago Rodríguez and Ignacio Russo. Coach: Diego Dabove.
19:58
This is the Instituto stadium before hosting Boca
The grass at the Monumental de Alta Córdoba is optimal for the match starting at 20:30.
19:42
The Boca fans’ welcome to the team in Córdoba
Hundreds of fans gathered at the hotel to welcome Diego Martínez’s team.
19:31
Instituto’s locker room ready to face Boca!
La Gloria will take the field with the home jersey.
19:29
How Boca might line up against Instituto
Everything is set for Boca’s reinforcements, who debuted last weekend in the 2-2 draw with Defensa y Justicia, to reappear in the starting lineup. Gary Medel would join the defense alongside Marcos Rojo, Tomás Belmonte would replace Jabes Saralegui, and Brian Aguirre would come in for Milton Delgado. Although there were doubts about the right-back position during the week, everything indicates that Lautaro Di Lollo will take the spot and win the competition against Dylan Gorosito.
19:15
Pastore visited Boca’s training camp
The midfielder with a past in the Argentina National Team stopped by Alta Córdoba to visit his former teammate Edinson Cavani. See what he said about the team’s level here.
19:12
How Instituto arrives at the match against Boca
Diego Dabove’s Instituto comes from a 1-0 loss in their visit to Tucumán, but still goes into the match with great hope of pulling off an upset against Boca on Sunday.
19:00
How Boca arrives at the match against Instituto
Boca, currently in 19th place with just 8 points, needs to get back on the winning track in the domestic tournament to not fall further behind, especially with La Gloria, who is in fifth place with 13 points despite their midweek defeat against Atlético Tucumán.
18:49
The facts about Instituto vs. Boca, for the Professional League
- Time: 20.30.
- TV: TNT Sports.
- Referee: Hernán Mastrángelo.
- Stadium: Monumental de Alta Córdoba.