Boca Juniors defeats Banfield to reach Copa Argentina final

Boca Juniors defeated Banfield 3-0 in a Copa Argentina semifinal on November 14, 2026, to secure a place in the tournament final. The match took place at the Estadio Malvinas Argentinas in Mendoza. The victory ensures that the club will compete for the trophy against Platense on December 2, 2026.

Match details and scoring

Santiago Ascacibar opened the scoring for Boca Juniors at the 46+2' mark to give the team the lead. Sebastián Villa expanded the advantage in the 63rd minute to make the score 2-0. Leandro Lozano scored the third goal for Boca Juniors in the 73rd minute, finalizing the 3-0 scoreline. The match was officiated by head referee Nazareno José Arasa, while Lucas Novelli served as the VAR official.

During the second half, Ecuadorian forward Enner Valencia entered the match in the 56th minute to replace Miguel Merentiel. Manager Rodolfo Arruabarrena had called up 25 players for this semifinal match. While Carlos Palacios was observed on the bench, Williams Alarcón was unavailable for the match due to a La Roja call-up.

Tournament context and upcoming fixtures

Boca Juniors has already secured the 2026 Tabla Anual title. The club is now preparing for two major upcoming matches. On November 21, 2026, Boca Juniors will play Atlético Mineiro in the Copa Sudamericana final in Barranquilla, Colombia. Following that, the team will face Platense in the Copa Argentina final. Platense earned their spot in the final after defeating Atlético Tucumán in a penalty shootout.

Boca Juniors has won the Copa Argentina four times, with the most recent victory occurring in 2020. Enner Valencia has the potential to win up to nine titles with Boca Juniors in the coming months if the club succeeds in its upcoming competitions.

Managerial decisions and squad status

Manager Rodolfo Arruabarrena explained the decision to maintain the same starting lineup for the semifinal. The manager noted that Lautaro Blanco was absent from the squad due to fatigue. Rodolfo Arruabarrena stated that having more players is better and that everyone would get an opportunity to play.

Banfield was managed by Pedro Troglio during the match. The loss prevents Banfield from advancing to the final of the tournament.

Glossary

• VAR — VAR is a technology used in football matches. It is utilized by officials during games.
• Boca Juniors — Boca Juniors is a club that has won the Copa Argentina four times. The club has also secured the 2026 Tabla Anual title.
• Banfield — Banfield is a team managed by Pedro Troglio. The team's loss in a semifinal prevents them from advancing to the tournament final.
• Platense — Platense is a team that earned a spot in the Copa Argentina final after defeating Atlético Tucumán in a penalty shootout.