Auckland City v Boca Juniors delayed for lightning Bayern already assured of spot in knockout round Benfica’s Andreas Schjelderup struck in the first half to seal a 1-0 win over Bayern Munich in sweltering heat on Tuesday, sending the Portuguese side to the top of Group C at the Club World Cup. After securing their first-ever victory over Bayern, Benfica will face Chelsea or Esperance de Tunis in the last 16. Bayern, finishing second, are set to face Group D leaders Flamengo. Continue reading...

Tenacious Boca Juniors side goes down 2-1 to Bayern Munch in Miami; Fantastic Miguel Merentiel breakaway strike put Xeneize back in game after Harry Kane's opener, but Michael Olise strikes winner Leer más

Real Madrid, Barcelona, Inter, Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen have already strengthened their squads By WhoScored River Plate have convinced Real Madrid to let them keep Franco Mastantuono for the Club World Cup, which is a huge boost for the Argentinian club. If you haven’t seen the video of the 17-year-old scoring a stunning free-kick against arch-rivals Boca Juniors in April, watch it now. Premier League clubs expressed an interest in the young forward but, when Real Madrid come knocking, few players reject the chance to move to the Bernabéu. Mastantuono is such an exciting talent; when he made his debut for Argentina earlier this month in a World Cup qualifier against Chile, he was 17 years and 296 days old, a new record for a competitive match. Real Madrid spent €45m to sign the talented right winger, who has a low centre of gravity, an eye for a defence-splitting pass, a wand of a left foot. Sound familiar? Continue reading...

Most fans who visit Buenos Aires want to watch Boca or River. I plumped for reigning champions Vélez Sarsfield By The Football Mine When imagining a football match in Buenos Aires many fans visualise La Bombonera shuddering to its foundations by the jumping mass of blue and yellow Boca Juniors supporters or the majestic Estadio Monumental bedecked in streams of ticker tape when hosting Argentina’s victory in the World Cup final in 1978. Last Sunday, the Monumental was at full capacity as 85,000 fans watched River Plate beat Boca 2-1 in a tense Superclásico. However, a few weeks ago my experience of going to a football match in Buenos Aires was very different indeed. As I discovered when planning my trip to Buenos Aires, gaining admission to one of the Argentinian capital’s largest clubs, such as Boca or River Plate, is by no means straightforward. Both clubs have significant numbers of members, with more than 340,000 each (only Real Madrid have more). These socios have priority when it comes to buying tickets so there is limited availability. One of the only ways to buy tickets in advance is through a third party, who charge $150 upwards. Kick-off times are only announced a week or so in advance, which makes life even more complicated. Continue reading...

Boca Juniors sack Fernando Gago, two days after the Xeneize slumped to a 2-1 defeat in the Superclásico to River Plate. Leer más

Before Sunday's Superclasico between Argentine icons River Plate and Boca Juniors, BBC Sport tells the story of arguably football's biggest rivalry.

Plus: lethal shots on target in high-scoring games, no goals of the month, a Botafogo correction and moreMail us any of your questions and answers “We’re well used to seeing established internationals from Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay et al plying their trade in Europe’s top leagues, but are there any examples of the opposite: Europeans enjoying an extended spell playing in South America while also turning out for their respective (top) nations?” asks Ian Clover. It remains incredibly rare for a high-profile European player to move to South America at or near their peak. The most famous, at least in this country, might be Manchester City legend Georgi Kinkladze. In the summer of 1994, a year before moving to City from Dinamo Tbilisi, Kinkladze spent a month on loan at Boca Juniors. It was effectively a trial after he was spotted by Boca’s scouts while playing against a Boca team during another trial with Atlético Madrid. Kinkladze got to share a dressing room, and occasionally even a training pitch, with his idol Diego Maradona, who was serving a drugs ban after USA 94. Continue reading...

Club hit by injuries to centre-backs Badiashile and FofanaThe 25-year-old reportedly wants to stay at Selhurst Park Chelsea could solve their selection problems in defence by cutting short Trevoh Chalobah’s loan at Crystal Palace. Enzo Maresca attempted to strengthen at centre-back last summer and the issue is back on the table after hamstring injuries to Benoît Badiashile and Wesley Fofana, who could miss the rest of the season. No decision has been made and Chelsea still have good depth in defence. Maresca’s senior centre-backs include Axel Disasi, Tosin Adarabioyo and Levi Colwill, who had formed a strong partnership with Fofana before the Frenchman’s latest setback. Alternatives include Josh Acheampong, who made his first league start in Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Palace, and Aaron Anselmino after the Argentinian teenager’s recall from his loan at Boca Juniors. Continue reading...

A surprise signing from Genoa, the striker has immediately integrated in Bergamo thanks to his manager’s brilliance Mateo Retegui is not afraid to make a snap decision. When Roberto Mancini phoned to ask if he would consider representing the Italian national team last March, the striker “didn’t have to think about it. I just said yes right away”. Born and raised in Argentina, he had never lived in Italy nor did he speak the language, yet within days he marked his international debut with a goal against England in Naples. A choice that shifted his whole life’s trajectory. Twenty-three years old and playing for Tigre on loan from Boca Juniors, Retegui was hardly at the forefront of most European scouts’ minds. He scored 23 goals across all competitions in 2022, yet domestically there were doubts as to his ceiling. His parent club had declined their option to bring him back at the end of the year, while the Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni was indifferent to Retegui declaring for Italy. Continue reading...

Former Boca star Fernando Gago tells players they must realise where they ply their trade as he is formally named as the club's new head coach. Leer más

Denmark striker Osula joins from Sheffield UnitedChelsea sign teenage Boca Juniors defender Anselmino Newcastle have signed the Denmark Under-21 striker William Osula from Sheffield United for an undisclosed fee, understood to be an initial £10m. The 21-year-old played 21 times in the Premier League last season without scoring, having spent the previous campaign on loan at Derby in League One. Osula began his career at his hometown club Copenhagen before moving to United in 2018. Newcastle’s manager, Eddie Howe, said: “William is a talented young forward with all the attributes to be an exciting player for Newcastle United. We have watched his development closely and we are delighted to have the opportunity to work with him in this next step in his career.” Continue reading...

Claiming football’s greatest prize has not dulled the Liverpool midfielder’s thirst for glory before Sunday’s Carabao Cup final A World Cup winner’s medal could symbolise an ending of sorts to some players, a mission completed, the pinnacle conquered. When Alexis Mac Allister looks at his, and he has done every day since 18 December 2022, he sees the beginning. Argentina’s triumph over France ignited a craving in the Liverpool midfielder that is some way from being satisfied. The Carabao Cup final against Chelsea on Sunday is Mac Allister’s first opportunity to win a trophy with Jürgen Klopp’s team and the first cup final of his senior club career. There has been success on the international stage of course, from Argentina’s under-23s to the ultimate glory in Qatar, and a league title on loan at Boca Juniors. Mementoes from them all will eventually go in a museum that Mac Allister has planned for the family home. But there is space to fill. Continue reading...

Famous club will hopefully kick on with Riquelme as new president but the women’s game needs much more investment Boca Juniors is undoubtably one of the most iconic clubs in South American football, whether on the men’s or the women’s side. Based in Buenos Aires, the women’s team have dominated domestically in the semi-professional era and won their fourth consecutive Argentinian end-of-year title in December. However, all is not rosy. There are many challenges for women’s football in Argentina and that ends up having an effect on Boca’s results internationally. “Boca have made history, especially recently,” the Argentinian journalist Sofia Jaimez Bertazzo points out. “The level they have achieved individually and collectively is incredible and is not only reflected in the titles won but also in the players that go abroad from them.” One such example is Yamila Rodríguez, who was signed by the Brazilian side Palmeiras after the two clubs had played in the Libertadores final in 2022. Continue reading...

Brighton to pay 19-year-old’s £7.8m release clause Barco set to sign four-and-a-half-year contract Brighton have agreed a deal to sign highly-rated teenager Valentín Barco from Boca Juniors after agreeing to pay his $10m (£7.8m) release clause. Scouts from Brighton are understood to have been tracking the 19-year-old, who can play as a left-back or winger, for several months and held positive talks with Boca officials last week. Barco is currently with the Argentina Under-23 side preparing for the Olympic qualifying tournament and is expected to complete a medical in his homeland before finalising his move to the Premier League in the coming days. Continue reading...