Paredes caught between the memory of his River penalty and a fitness scare before the Superclasico

There's an image that still replays in the mind of every Boca fan: Leandro Paredes standing over the penalty spot at the Monumental, ball tucked under his arm, half of River's stadium holding its breath. On that April 19 afternoon, the captain scored the only goal of the match and Boca walked away with a 1-0 win that still carries weight ahead of the next Superclasico, this Sunday, November 1, at La Bombonera.

It wasn't just any goal, and it wasn't an easy afternoon either. Paredes had felt muscle discomfort during the first half and, rather than ask to come off, he gritted it out. He played through the pain and ended up being the standout performer. After the match, he summed up the moment in simple terms:

The important thing was winning, we came here to win and we did it in the best way possible.Leandro Paredes

He went further when talking about the group: "I'm proud of this group that's turning into a team of men, one that plays well, that knows how to grind through tough moments, so I'm happy."

The cold-blooded penalty and the weight of the midfield

What stood out most about that goal was the read beforehand. Paredes later explained how he decided where to put it: "I was sure the keeper was going to dive to his left because 'Cachete' (Montiel) was talking to him and I thought, 'this guy knows me.' Worst case, if he dives that way, I'll go high to the corner. Thank God it worked out." That composure, right in the moment of maximum pressure, is part of what Boca needs to find again for this next chapter of the rivalry.

But Paredes brings more than just penalties. His sense of timing, the ability to slow the game down when needed or speed it up when there's space, gives the midfield a clear reference point. He explained it himself months ago, talking about his midfield partners: "Delgado and Ascacibar make things very easy for me, they're two very smart players who run a ton and play really well. For me it's a pleasure." At the time, Boca had gone 12 games unbeaten, and the captain saw it as proof of a style of play that was starting to take shape.

The fitness concern that still calls for caution

The problem is that between that goal and this Sunday, something happened that changed the equation: on October 10, Paredes suffered a grade-two tear in his right hamstring. He eased back in with minutes against Vasco, where he even scored the third goal, and then started the full 90 minutes against Independiente in a 1-0 win.

Right after that match he admitted he may have pushed himself too hard: "Thank God I was able to finish the game. The plan was something else, but it worked out and we won, which is what matters." And he was candid about something players don't usually admit so openly: "Playing the full 90 minutes probably wasn't what the doctors recommended." He added that he felt good, which is why he kept playing. Those are words that build confidence, but they also leave an open question about how he'll arrive at the Superclasico without risking a setback at such a delicate point in the calendar.

Asked about what it means to play this match at home, Paredes didn't hide his excitement: "You always dream of playing games like this, at home at La Bombonera. Hopefully it's a great match and we can do our very best."

Riquelme: "He's a cut above the rest"

In the middle of this buildup, Juan Roman Riquelme spoke about the midfielder on the program No Podemos Perder, on AZZ, and didn't hold back: "We have Paredes, who is a cut above the rest. He loves his club, he's won everything he's played for, and he loves wearing the Boca jersey, he gives us joy."

Boca's president also spoke about the personal bond between them: "I've known him since he was a kid, I love him dearly, he loves me too, and seeing him today makes me very happy." He closed with a description of how the captain experiences clasicos: "He really enjoys wearing the jersey, and he plays clasicos like both a player and a fan, he's got the voice of command, we hope it lasts a long time and the fans get to enjoy it."

Between the still-fresh memory of that penalty at the Monumental and the physical question mark the coaching staff will have to sort out in training, Paredes is once again at the center of the story. Boca knows what he can deliver when he's at full strength; now the question is whether he'll be there against River, once again with La Bombonera as the stage.