Buenos Aires offered San Lorenzo a full house and a fierce welcome at the Bidegain, but Boca Juniors left the neighbourhood with the authority of a side carrying momentum across several fronts. A 2-0 away victory tightened the historic head-to-head gap to 12 matches, with San Lorenzo still the only opponent holding an overall advantage against Boca.
The result strengthened Boca’s domestic position only days after Rodolfo Arruabarrena’s team reached the Copa Sudamericana semi-finals. For San Lorenzo, meanwhile, the evening underlined both a reduced level of quality on the pitch and a wider institutional crisis.
Boca took control before the dismissal
San Lorenzo had hoped that Rubén Insua’s first home fixture of his new spell in charge would provide a turning point. Instead, Boca controlled the contest from the opening stages and were already the better side with 11 players apiece.
The balance shifted decisively after half an hour when Manuel Insaurralde was sent off for a high, dangerous challenge. Down to 10 men, San Lorenzo found it increasingly difficult to contain a Boca side guided calmly in midfield by Leandro Paredes.
Insua’s substitutions also drew attention. Facundo Farías and Rodrigo Auzmendi, among San Lorenzo’s more promising performers, were withdrawn, while Juan Pablo Álvarez and Diego Herazo entered amid criticism from the home support.
Lozano and Merentiel settle it after the interval
Boca’s opening goal began at the opposite end, where Marco Pellegrino made an important defensive intervention inside the visitors’ area. The recovery launched a quick, accurate break, finished by full-back Leandro Lozano.
With San Lorenzo losing their shape, Boca found a second goal through Miguel Merentiel. Lautaro Blanco drove forward down the flank and supplied the delivery for the forward to complete a deserved win.
A heavy downpour then transformed parts of the surface into standing water, slowing Boca’s attempts to add further goals. San Lorenzo goalkeeper José Devecchi also made several saves that prevented the scoreline from becoming more severe.
Boca now turn their attention to another Buenos Aires derby next weekend, when Racing await in the Copa Argentina. After progress in continental competition and a commanding league result at the Bidegain, Arruabarrena’s side remain alive in every major objective.
