HERE WE GO!
Few rivalries in world football command the history and meaning of the Superclásico.
It’s a fixture defined by superstar players, fervent fans, and moments ingrained in football history. Every time these two giants collide, the match splits the nation, dividing families and painting neighborhoods in their respective colors.
Boca Juniors holds a slight edge in the historical head-to-head with 92 wins to River Plate’s 88. However, River has enjoyed recent bragging rights, winning four of their last six encounters. We are once again set for a classic derby. While Boca has started the season in solid form, River Plate will be desperate for a win to turn their fortunes around. With the return of Argentinian World Cup champion Leandro Paredes to Boca, this Sunday’s derby is an unmissable event.
History of The Superclásico
The Superclásico was born in the shipyards of Buenos Aires, as both clubs originated in the La Boca neighbourhood. River Plate was established in 1901 and Boca Juniors in 1905, before River moved north to the Núñez district in the 1920s. Boca became known as the “people’s club” (the Xeneizes), while River earned the nickname Los Millonarios (The Millionaires). Both monikers have stuck.
Their first clash took place on August 24, 1913, at Racing Club’s ground. River Plate won 2-1, sparking a rivalry that would soon define Argentinian football.
The rivalry intensified as its iconic stadiums, La Bombonera (Boca) and El Monumental (River), turned the derby into a sensory overload defined by raw physicality, massive choreographies, and stands that literally seem to bounce. International outlets have long highlighted the atmosphere as among the most intense in world football.
On the pitch, the results have swung through eras, with both teams enjoying streaks of victory and featuring iconic stars. A landmark modern flashpoint arrived in 2018, when the two contested the first-ever all-Argentinian Copa Libertadores final. After an attack on Boca’s team bus outside El Monumental forced the second leg to be relocated, River ultimately won the tie 5–3 on aggregate at the Santiago Bernabéu in Madrid, marking perhaps the rivalry’s most globally-watched chapter.
Other historic moments include:
- Maradona’s Masterpiece (1981): In his first Superclásico, a 21-year-old Diego Maradona scored one of his most famous goals in a 3-0 Boca victory. He dribbled past multiple defenders and the goalkeeper, showcasing his genius and instantly winning over the Boca faithful en route to a league title.
- The Puerta 12 Tragedy (1968): In the rivalry’s darkest event, 71 fans were killed in a stampede at River Plate’s El Monumental stadium. It remains one of the worst stadium disasters in football history, and to this day, its exact cause remains unexplained.
Since the 2018 final, the Superclásico has only deepened its global pull, feeding an endless narrative loop of revenge, redemption, and one-upmanship. Whatever the form table says, each meeting feels like a monumental occasion that defines identities and creates legacies.
Preview: Superclásico Boca vs. River
The 2025 Superclásico at La Bombonera (Sunday, 9 November, 16:30 local time) arrives with the stakes sky-high. Boca enters on strong league form and the comfort of home turf, while River arrives hunting a statement win after taking the April meeting 2–1.
Expect a fierce midfield wrestle where River tries to impose rhythm and stretch Boca’s compact block. Boca, meanwhile, will look to turn the game into a battle of duels, second balls, and quick vertical surges.
Set pieces and discipline loom large; one lapse or card can flip everything in this derby, and the Bombonera’s swaying stands amplify every moment. On balance, the needle tilts slightly toward Boca at home, but in a match where noise, nerves, and one dead ball can decide it, a draw or a River Plate upset remains firmly on the table.
Boca Juniors coach Claudio Úbeda faces tough decisions regarding his starting lineup, with questions over the health of stars Ander Herrera and Edinson Cavani for Sunday’s clash. With River Plate in poor form, losing four of their last five games, they will be hungry to steal points against a potentially battered Boca side.
Key Storylines
The Return of Paredes
After 12 years playing for world-class clubs like Roma, Juventus, and PSG, World Cup champion Leandro Paredes has returned home to Boca Juniors. After completing his permanent move from Roma in July, Boca staged a full-house “welcome home” presentation for the hometown hero.
The star midfielder is set to play in his first Superclásico since 2013, when, as a young star, he made his impact by creating a last-minute equalizer. Since returning, Paredes has taken the captain’s armband and proven to be a true leader, using his experience and talent to control games. The 31-year-old will be looking to seize this opportunity to build his legacy with Boca on the biggest stage of his club career since the World Cup final.
Will Ander Herrera Play?
There is cautious optimism around the potential return of Ander Herrera. After joining Boca in January 2025, the 36-year-old has endured a stop-start year with multiple muscle setbacks.
When on the pitch, Herrera has been impactful, such as in the game against Pincha, where he won a penalty. In the lead-up to this Superclásico, reports indicate he’s back in full training and under serious consideration to start. If passed fit, Herrera’s press resistance, short-range combinations, and leadership could steady Boca’s play and help them sustain pressure. Given his injury history, the staff will manage his load carefully, but his inclusion would tilt Boca’s midfield toward control rather than chaos, exactly the edge needed in a derby decided by details.
Recent Form
Key Players
- Miguel Merentiel (Boca): Boca’s tone-setter up front. He has scored in big moments lately, including a late winner at Estudiantes, and thrives on aggressive runs and quick finishes. If Boca tilt the field, Merentiel is the most likely to capitalize.
- Sebastián Driussi (River): A returning talisman who already stung Boca in April’s 2–1 win. His intelligent movement between center-backs and instinct for second balls is vital, and he has repeatedly shown he can pop up with decisive goals for Marcelo Gallardo’s side.
- Ian Subiabre (River): At just 18, the young gun has already shown X-factor, and has attracted attention from big-name clubs such as Liverpool and Arsenal. The wonder kid hasn’t yet impacted statistically, but has shown flashes and in a match like the Superclásico, all it takes is a moment to decide the game, I believe Subiabre could be the difference.
The Bottom Line
All roads point to La Bombonera. Boca arrives buoyed by recent wins and the home cauldron; River comes in wounded but dangerous, armed with match-winners who need only a sliver to flip the script.
Add the possible returns of midfield leaders, the roar of 50,000, and a century of grudges, and you have ninety minutes that can mint heroes and break hearts. Expect tackles that rattle, set pieces that stop time, and a game that can change in a heartbeat.
This is the Superclásico: history on fast-forward, emotion at full volume. Clear the schedule, turn up the sound, and breathe it in. Everything feels destined for one historic moment.
