Boca Juniors' confident start in the Copa Libertadores has evaporated after a stunning 1-0 defeat to Barcelona SC in Guayaquil. The Argentine giants, who had won their opening two group matches, now find themselves in a precarious position after a second consecutive loss, this time to the team that had yet to collect a point in Group D.
The match was defined by a familiar theme: indiscipline. For the second time in three games, Boca played more than half the match with 10 men after Santiago Ascacibar was sent off in the first half for a reckless challenge. This follows Adam Bareiro's red card in the previous match against Cruzeiro, a game Boca went on to lose 2-0 after being reduced to 10 men early in the second half.
Ascacibar's dismissal came in the 34th minute when he lunged into a tackle that left the referee no choice but to show a straight red. The decision sparked protests from Boca's bench, but replays confirmed the Brazilian midfielder's studs were showing. It was a moment of madness that coaches and fans alike have criticized as avoidable.
Boca's discipline issues have become a recurring subplot. After Bareiro's red card against Cruzeiro, manager Diego Martínez had emphasized the need for composure. Yet Ascacibar repeated the mistake, leaving the team to fight uphill once more. "It's becoming a pattern that hurts us," would be the likely sentiment from the locker room.
Despite playing a man down in the second half, Boca created chances. Edinson Cavani hit the crossbar in the 55th minute, and substitute Miguel Merentiel forced a save from the Barcelona goalkeeper. But the home side capitalized on its numerical advantage in the 72nd minute when a defensive lapse allowed Damian Díaz to tap in from close range.
The defeat leaves Boca with just six points from four matches, tied with Cruzeiro but with an inferior goal difference. Barcelona SC, now with three points, has revived its hopes of advancing. The top two from Group D qualify, and with two games remaining, Boca cannot afford any more slip-ups.
"We control our destiny, but we need to stop shooting ourselves in the foot," a team source might have said post-match. The schedule ahead includes a must-win home clash against Barcelona SC, followed by a trip to face Cruzeiro. Martínez must address the disciplinary issues quickly.
For a club of Boca's stature, falling behind to a team that had lost its first three matches is alarming. The Libertadores demands intensity and intelligence; Boca has provided the former but lacked the latter. If they fail to advance, the red cards will be remembered as the turning point.
The road to qualification is now treacherous. Boca must win both remaining games, likely needing at least one by a clear margin to secure a spot. The next match against Barcelona SC at La Bombonera will be decisive. Fans will hope their team can channel frustration into a disciplined performance.
Based on reporting from Fútbol.
