Boca transformed a favourable position into an emphatic qualification. They beat Deportivo Recoleta 4-0 at the Defensores del Chaco stadium in Asunción and completed the Copa Sudamericana round of 16 with a 7-1 aggregate score. Rodolfo Arruabarrena's team had already won the first leg 3-1 and protected that advantage with authority, never allowing the Paraguayan side to build a realistic comeback attempt.
The line-up included changes to manage workloads and also had to absorb the injury absences of Leandro Paredes, Leandro Lozano and Marco Pellegrino. Despite the rotation, Boca dictated the rhythm, moved the contest into the opposing half and gradually reduced the home side's resistance. Recoleta defended through the opening period but offered little going forward and never made the first-leg margin appear vulnerable.
The breakthrough arrived after 30 minutes. Lautaro Blanco delivered a cross, the defence produced an untidy clearance and Miguel Merentiel could not make contact at the near post. The ball remained alive and Santiago Ascacíbar arrived to head in the opening goal. It was the midfielder's fifth goal in six games, a sequence confirming his influence beyond his usual responsibilities in central areas.
Before half-time, Sebastián Villa extended the advantage in the 43rd minute. Nelson Ferreira left a rebound and the forward finished the second action for his first goal since returning to Boca. His celebration, hands placed on his head in an apologetic gesture, accompanied a significant detail: he had not scored in blue and gold since a Copa Libertadores match against Colo-Colo in 2023.
The second half followed the same direction. Merentiel made it 3-0 in the 52nd minute after an individual move that ended any remaining uncertainty in the tie. He soon made way for Enner Valencia, who completed his official Boca debut at the age of 36. The Ecuadorian forward did not score, but collected his first minutes in a match that had already become comfortable.
Alan Velasco, introduced for Tomás Aranda at half-time, completed the scoring after 77 minutes. Kevin Zenón provided the assist and Velasco finished to establish the night's 4-0 result. Facundo Herrera was also given playing time. The size of the lead allowed Arruabarrena to distribute the physical effort without Boca losing control, intensity or a consistent presence around Recoleta's penalty area.
The win sent Boca into the quarter-finals with an aggregate margin that left no argument. São Paulo will be the next opponent, with the first leg planned for La Bombonera and the return in the Morumbí during September. Beyond the challenge ahead, the Recoleta tie delivered a clear message: Boca scored seven times in two matches, managed the initial advantage and finished the away leg with four different scorers.
