Merentiel scores Boca's goal in Copa Sudamericana quarterfinal first leg against São Paulo

The cramp gave him warning before fatigue forced him to stop. Miguel Merentiel played, ran, pressed, scored the only goal of the match, and in the 79th minute had to hand his spot over to Sebastián Villa. Boca was already winning 1-0, and that lead ended up being the difference in the first leg of the 2026 Copa Sudamericana quarterfinals against São Paulo, this Tuesday at La Bombonera.

After the match, during the press conference, someone asked Rodolfo Arruabarrena about the Uruguayan's physical condition. The coach's answer was almost a snapshot of what had happened on the field:

Did you see how much he's running? He keeps getting these cramps, poor guy…Rodolfo Arruabarrena

The coach gave more details about how the forward's exit came about. It wasn't a spur-of-the-moment decision: Merentiel had given warning before the coaching staff decided to pull him. "During the second stoppage, he told me he was feeling something in his calf," Arruabarrena said, referring to one of the breaks in play during the match.

The goalscorer who plays with his back to goal

Beyond the substitution, what the match left behind was another solid performance from Merentiel, who opened the scoring and once again showed why he's become such a key piece for the team. Arruabarrena didn't hold back praise when describing his performance: "Honestly, he presses, he runs. He played really well with his back to goal, he scored the goal…"

The Uruguayan forward joined Boca to fill a position that, as the coach himself admitted, isn't the one that suits him best. Even so, he's earned his place with goals and hard work. "He's a guy who has adapted, in a position that isn't the most comfortable for him. And he's doing it really well and giving us a lot of joy. I hope he keeps it up," the coach concluded.

With the 1-0 in hand, Boca leaves the tie open but with an advantage to manage in the second leg against São Paulo. Now, Merentiel's physical situation becomes something to watch closely in the coming days, ahead of a matchup that will be decided in Brazil and that may once again depend on the Uruguayan being available to run, press, and, if needed, show up with his back to goal to finish the job.