Blanco and Merentiel Run It Back as Boca Draws Level with Talleres

La Bombonera was cold and quiet, and then suddenly that partnership that has brought Boca so much joy over the years showed up again. Talleres had gone ahead on a brilliant strike from Galarza, and the match was starting to get away from the home side. But before the first half even reached the half-hour mark, the formula everyone knows by heart resurfaced: Lautaro Blanco wins it back, Merentiel finishes.

It happened in the 18th minute. Blanco stripped the ball off Baroni in the opposition half, didn't think twice, and slipped in the perfect pass to send Merentiel through one on one with keeper Unsain. The Uruguayan made no mistake, a low, angled finish, and it was 1-1 at La Bombonera in matchday 13 of the 2026 Clausura.

This was no fluke, no isolated moment of magic. It's the third time this year that Blanco has set up a Merentiel goal, a connection that keeps repeating itself and that came through for Boca exactly when the team needed it most, right after falling behind to Galarza's strike.

The Numbers Behind the Partnership

The goal also added to some notable numbers for both players. Merentiel is now up to 14 goals in 2026 and has his fifth goal of this Clausura wearing the Boca jersey. Blanco, for his part, reached 10 assists on the year, a figure that underscores just how valuable he's become down that left flank, both defensively and as a creative outlet.

The fullback held nothing back on the play: he won the ball far from his own goal, deep in attacking territory, and immediately looked to set up his teammate without a second thought. That decision, to play it forward rather than slow things down, is what ultimately unlocked the equalizer for the Xeneize right after Talleres had struck first through Galarza.

With the score tied at 1-1, Boca found an immediate response to the early setback and was able to regroup in a match that, up to that point, had started getting difficult in a hurry.