Boca vs Vasco da Gama Semi Final Showdown: Time, TV, Lineups

Tonight at 21:30, Boca travels to the Maracanã to chase a comeback and a spot in the Sudamericana final. Here’s everything you need to know.

Boca will face Vasco da Gama at the Maracanã in the second leg of the Sudamericana semifinals. The Argentine side must erase a 0‑1 first‑leg loss to reach the final, a stage they haven’t seen since 2005 after a night of fireworks at their hotel. All details for the match overseen by Venezuelan referee Jesús Valenzuela.

In the first leg at La Bombonera, Boca struggled without captain Leandro Paredes and other key absentees, falling 1‑0 to Adson’s 24th‑minute strike. Though they created chances in the second half, they couldn’t equalise and now must win by at least one goal in Brazil to force penalties.

Brazil has been a nightmare for Boca, who haven’t won there since Dec 2 2020, when they beat Internacional in Porto Alegre in the Libertadores round‑of‑16. Since that triumph, they’ve endured 11 winless games, despite a dominant quarter‑final win over São Paulo in this Sudamericana.

The big question was Leandro Paredes’ availability. The captain healed a grade‑II hamstring tear faster than expected and, while not fully fit, wants to risk it given the stakes. He’s cleared to play, yet the coach opted to keep him on the bench. For my money, his presence on the field could spark the needed momentum.

Alan Velasco, now fit after a tear against Unión, may also return, battling Sebastián Villa for a spot. Meanwhile, Miguel Merentiel could reclaim a starting role over Enner Valencia from the first leg.

Vasco da Gama come off a 1‑0 loss to São Paulo in the Brasileirão, ending a seven‑match unbeaten run. The defeat dropped them to 15th with 35 points, three spots above relegation and four shy of the next Sudamericana slot.

Coach Pedro Emanuel is unlikely to overhaul the line‑up that won at La Bombonera. Watch how Paulo Henrique, a key figure in the first leg who limped off at halftime, recovers.

After much back‑and‑forth, the clash will finally take place in the iconic Maracanã before roughly 70,000 Vasco fans and 4,000 Boca supporters. The venue, which hosted the 1950 and 2014 World Cup finals, was chosen after the club’s usual ground, São Januário, failed CONMEBOL standards. Although the Fla‑Flu consortium initially opposed the move, Rio de Janeiro courts ruled in Vasco’s favour.

Potential Boca lineup against Vasco da Gama for the Sudamericana.

Álvaro Montero; Leandro Lozano, Lautaro Di Lollo, Facundo Herrera, Lautaro Blanco; Rodrigo Battaglia, Milton Delgado, Santiago Ascacíbar; Alan Velasco or Sebastián Villa, Leonel Flores and Miguel Merentiel. Coach: Rodolfo Arruabarrena.

Potential Vasco da Gama lineup versus Boca for the Sudamericana.

Léo Jardim; Paulo Henrique or José Luis Rodríguez, Robert Renan, Alan Saldivia, Cuiabano; Santiago Sosa, Thiago Mendes, Jair, Alan Lescano, Adson; Bruno Duarte. Coach: Pedro Emanuel.

Key details for Vasco da Gama vs. Boca in the Sudamericana.

• Time: 21.30.
• TV: DSports.
• Referee: Jesús Valenzuela (VEN).
• Stadium: Maracanã.