Best Superclásico Matches & Moments

The Superclásico is one of the fiercest rivalries in world football. The Boca Juniors and River Plate rivalry is full of controversy  and we take a look at some our favourite matches and moments throughout the years. 

Boca Juniors 3-0 River Plate (1981)

After Impressing at Argentinos Juniors, Maradona received a massive offer to join River Plate which would see him become the club’s highest-paid player. Maradona who was a boyhood Boca Juniors fan turned River down and at 21 joined Boca. 

Maradona lined up in his first-ever Superclásico with a lot of expectations, being highly sought after by both clubs. Diego scored with a trademark goal, rounding the keeper and dribbling past defenders to seal a 3-0 win for Boca Juniors.

Boca Juniors 0-2 River Plate (1986)

In 1986 River Plate had already sealed the title and as tradition, they were due a lap of honour. Being at La Bombonera didn’t stop them either, River did a whole lap of honour around the stadium, upsetting the fans greatly. 

The fans reacted by ripping up white bits of paper and throwing them all over the pitch, making it impossible to spot the match ball. The game was played out with an orange ball and knows as the 'Orange Ball Superclásico’. Despite the Boca fans’ best efforts, River won the match 2-0 thanks to a Noberto Alonso brace.

River Plate 2-1 Boca Juniors (2004)

In 2004, the clubs met in the Semi-finals of the Copa Libertadores. Boca won the first leg 1-0 but the teams were soon level on aggregate when Luis González scored for River early in the 2nd leg. 

Carlos Tevez then went full Carlos Tevez, scoring a crucial goal and celebrated with a Gallinas taunt at the river fans, dancing like a chicken in front of them and being sent off for provoking the crowd. With Boca Juniors a man down, River found a late equaliser, sending the match into extra-time. Boca managed to hold on, winning 5-4 on penalties.

River Plate 2-4 Boca Juniors (2016)

The two sides met in December 2016 in the Primera Division and featured a man of the match performance from the same man; Carlos Tevez. River started the match the better side, going into halftime 2-1 up thanks to goals from Driussi and Alario. 

It was an inspired 2nd half performance from Carlos Tevez with 2 goals in 20 minutes, turning the match on its head. Ricardo Centurion scored another in extra-time, finishing River off and completing a memorable night for Boca Juniors fans. 

River Plate 3-1 Boca Juniors (2018)

For the first time in the rivals 110 year history, the two sides met in the Copa Libertadores final. After the first leg finished 2-2, the 2nd leg had to be postponed when River Plate fans attacked the Boca Juniors team bus. For the first time ever, the final would be played outside South America, moving to the Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid. 

The match was referred to as the ‘super final’ and was dubbed the most important final in Argentina's football history. The 2nd leg finally went ahead in front of 72,000 fans at the Bernabeu, with Boca finding the net just before half-time, giving them the lead. River came out much better in the 2nd half and found an equaliser, sending the match into extra-time. 

Boca midfielder Wilmar Barrios was sent off early in extra-time and River Plate took full advantage, taking the lead through Juan Fernando Quintero. Chasing a late equaliser Boca had pushed everyone up-field including the keeper. Leonardo Jara hit the post and from the resulting corner, River Plate broke away and scored to seal the Copa Libertadores.