The highly anticipated match held on Sunday saw Unión and Boca Juniors finish evenly, with each team scoring once.
Unión took the lead when Julián Palacios found the net in the 41st minute of the first half. However, Boca Juniors responded with a goal from Miguel Ángel Merentiel in the 57th minute, equalizing the score.
In a crucial moment of the match, Adam Bareiro nearly turned the tide for Boca Juniors in the second half, but his shot hit the post, preventing his team from gaining the lead.
Merentiel emerged as the standout player, netting one goal, taking three shots on target, and completing 11 successful passes.
Equally significant, Julián Palacios also made an impactful contribution, scoring one goal, completing 20 accurate passes, winning back three balls, and attempting two shots.
The match saw Unión’s manager, Leonardo Madelón, implement a 4-4-2 formation with Matías Mansilla in goal, supported by a defensive line of Lautaro Vargas, Alex Maizon Rodriguez, Juan Pablo Ludueña, and Mateo Del Blanco. The midfield included Julián Palacios, Mauro Pittón, Rafael Profini, and Brahian Cuello, while Cristian Tarragona and Marcelo Estigarribia spearheaded the attack.
On the other side, Boca Juniors, managed by Claudio Úbeda, also set up in a 4-4-2 formation featuring Agustín Marchesín in goal; defenders Marcelo Weigandt, Lautaro Di Lollo, Ayrton Costa, and Lautaro Blanco; a midfield comprised of Leandro Paredes, Santiago Ascacíbar, Milton Delgado, and Tomás Aranda; and strikers Miguel Ángel Merentiel and Adam Bareiro.
The referee for the match, Yael Falcón Pérez, officiated the game.
Looking ahead, Unión will visit Defensa y Justicia in the next round, while Boca Juniors will host Instituto at the Estadio Alberto J. Armando.
Substitutions for Unión
67’ 2T – Brahian Cuello came off for Misael Aguirre
70’ 2T – Marcelo Estigarribia came off for Diego Díaz
83’ 2T – Julián Palacios came off for Santiago Grella
Yellow Cards for Unión:
25’ 1T Brahian Cuello (Repeated fouls) and 12’ 2T Julián Palacios (Insulting or disapproving the referee)
Substitutions for Boca Juniors
50’ 2T – Santiago Ascacíbar came off for Ander Herrera
78’ 2T – Tomás Aranda came off for Alan Velasco
86’ 2T – Miguel Ángel Merentiel came off for Malcom Braida
Yellow Cards for Boca Juniors:
21’ 1T Tomás Aranda (Holding an opponent to prevent them from advancing), 30’ 1T Santiago Ascacíbar (Unsporting behavior), and 29’ 2T Ayrton Costa (Unsporting behavior)