In a thrilling encounter on matchday 4 of the Apertura tournament, Vélez defeated Boca Juniors 2-1, propelled by a standout performance from Matías Pellegrini, who netted two goals. Pellegrini opened the scoring at the 63rd minute with a powerful header, showcasing his aerial prowess. Just three minutes later, he struck again, finishing off a well-executed play to extend Vélez’s lead. Boca Juniors did find a consolation goal through Iker Zufiaurre in the 90th minute, but it was not enough to change the outcome of the match.
Pellegrini was undoubtedly the star of the show, not only for his two goals but also for his impressive statistics, including 24 key passes and three shots on target. Another key contributor for Vélez was Diego Valdés, who completed 44 accurate passes and also looked to threaten the Boca goal.
Under the management of Guillermo Barros Schelotto, Vélez lined up with a solid 4-5-1 formation featuring Álvaro Montero in goal; a defensive line comprising Roberto García, Emanuel Mammana, Lisandro Magallán, and Elías Gómez; a midfield anchored by Tobías Andrada, Claudio Baeza, Matías Pellegrini, Diego Valdés, and Manuel Lanzini; with Florián Monzón leading the attack.
On the other side, Boca Juniors, managed by Claudio Úbeda, opted for a 4-3-3 setup, placing Agustín Marchesín between the posts; a backline of Juan Ignacio Barinaga, Lautaro Di Lollo, Ayrton Costa, and Lautaro Blanco; with a midfield trio of Santiago Ascacíbar, Milton Delgado, and Leandro Paredes; and a forward line made up of Gonzalo Gelini, Miguel Ángel Merentiel, and Kevin Zenón.
The match was officiated by referee Nazareno Arasa.
Looking ahead, Vélez’s next challenge in the league will be against Defensa y Justicia, while Boca Juniors will host Platense in their upcoming fixture.
Vélez Substitutions
77’ 2T – Matías Pellegrini was replaced by Lucas Robertone
78’ 2T – Florián Monzón was substituted for Dilan Godoy
82’ 2T – Claudio Baeza made way for Rodrigo Aliendro
83’ 2T – Manuel Lanzini was replaced by Álex Verón
91’ 2T – Diego Valdés left the field for Aarón Quirós
Boca Juniors Substitutions
45’ 2T – Gonzalo Gelini was replaced by Iker Zufiaurre
60’ 2T – Miguel Ángel Merentiel was substituted for Ángel Romero
72’ 2T – Kevin Zenón and Juan Ignacio Barinaga were replaced by Tomás Aranda and Marcelo Weigandt respectively.
Yellow Card for Boca Juniors:
1’ 2T – Leandro Paredes (Unsporting behavior)