Racing’s plan worked, until it didn’t

Racing were compact, physical and clinical on dead balls for much of the night. Lodico’s first-half strike and Martínez’s goal just after halftime both came from corners, reflecting a smart focus on restarts. The hosts also led the tackling count 28 to 14 and made 10 interceptions to 6. They cleared their lines 46 times and won the ground duels battle 53% to 47%. For a long stretch, that rugged profile controlled the game state. They also produced more big chances overall (3 to 2), but converted only one of them. Two big chances went begging, and that proved costly once Boca’s bench changed the tempo.

Individually, Lodico was Racing’s standout with a Sofascore Rating of 8.4 thanks to a goal, 18 accurate passes out of 21, and three key passes. Martínez worked tirelessly, scored once and posted four shots for a 7.8. Matías Zaracho added bite with four successful tackles from five. Yet the collective picture tells the story. Racing’s 27% possession meant a lot of defending and chasing. The defensive output was impressive, but against 20 Blanco crosses and a constant stream of balls into the area, the dam finally broke.

Midfield control and the service line

Boca’s midfield trio kept the ball and the game under control. Leandro Paredes completed 82 of 87 passes, hit 11 of 15 long balls, and made 12 recoveries, finishing with a 7.6 Sofascore Rating. Milton Delgado (69/76 passes) and Facundo Herrera (71/80) kept the rhythm and stepped in to win duels. Boca also produced 10 corners to Racing’s 4, a mirror of where play was spent. Final-third entries were 81 to 43 in Boca’s favour, reflecting sustained territory and second-ball pressure. Those numbers rarely lose over 90 minutes.

On the left, Lautaro Blanco was busy and dangerous with 20 crosses, four key passes and the assist for the first Valencia header. On the opposite side, Villa arrived to add eight crosses and one assist for the second goal. Palacios then came on to deliver the winner’s cross. Boca’s crossing accuracy was only 22% (10/45), but volume beat precision in the end. With 40 accurate long balls to Racing’s 22 and more switches to isolate full-backs, the visitors stretched the block until a header was on.

MVP: Enner Valencia’s impact in 34 minutes

Enner Valencia came on at 56 minutes and left with a perfect Sofascore Rating of 10. He had three shots on target, all three were goals, and each finish was a header from a cross. It is hard to be more efficient than 9 total touches and three decisive ones. He also won three aerial duels and four total duels, showing there was more than just penalty-box craft. He even added a key pass and a successful tackle as Boca pressed for territory. What stands out is the timing and variation of the headers: one from a corner delivery, one from open-play width with Villa, and the last from Palacios’ cross under pressure at 90+5.

Valencia’s cameo changed how Racing defended the area. With the striker attacking near post and back post lanes, Racing’s centre-backs were dragged into awkward decisions. That opened angles for Blanco, Villa and Palacios to hit. Booked in added time, he otherwise offered a masterclass in penalty-box movement. For a tie that needed one clean finisher, Boca found him on the bench. The Sofascore Rating of 10 says the rest.

What this win tells us

Boca’s route to the semifinals came from patience and structure. They had 73% of the ball, 579 passes, and kept turning Racing around with long diagonals and crosses. Even with modest crossing accuracy, repetition created the decisive moments. The 81 final-third entries and 40 accurate long balls point to a clear, repeatable plan. Paredes’ control and Blanco’s delivery gave the platform for the subs to decide the tie. Defensively, Boca didn’t rack up tackles like Racing, but they won 71% of the ones they made in the second half and recovered 28 balls after the break.

For Racing, set pieces were a weapon and their defensive volume impressive. Big chances led 3 to 2, but conversion lagged. The box was crowded, the numbers were brave, yet the final duels at the back post went Boca’s way. Racing’s offsides count (3 to 1) also hints at rare moments to counter that didn’t stick. In knockout football, those margins are everything. Boca march into the last four of the Copa Argentina with momentum and a striker who needed less than half an hour to decide a quarterfinal.