Match report

Boca Juniors Stalls Benfica in Thrilling Draw (2–2) at Club World Cup

Boca Juniors
Boca Juniors
2–2
FT
Benfica
Benfica
Jun 16, 2025

Boca Juniors held off a resilient Benfica in a thrilling 2–2 draw, displaying remarkable fortitude despite playing much of the game with fewer players due to red cards. The match at the FIFA Club World Cup was filled with twists and turns, including an early own goal from Nicolás Otamendi and crucial penalties.

Key Facts

  • • Boca Juniors: 2 goals (R. Battaglia, Own Goal by N. Otamendi)
  • • Benfica: 2 goals (A. Di María - penalty, Nicolás Otamendi)
  • • Red Cards: Ander Herrera (1st min) for Boca Juniors, A. Belotti (72nd min) for Benfica
  • • Penalty awarded to Benfica confirmed by VAR at the 45th minute

Lineups

Boca Juniors

Formation: 4-2-3-1

Starting XI

  • 25 A. Marchesín (G)
  • 17 L. Advíncula (D)
  • 4 N. Figal (D)
  • 32 A. Costa (D)
  • 23 L. Blanco (D)
  • 21 Ander Herrera (M)
  • 5 R. Battaglia (M)
  • 22 K. Zenón (M)
  • 20 A. Velasco (M)
  • 8 C. Palacios (M)
  • 16 M. Merentiel (F)

Substitutes

  • 15 W. Alarcón
  • 7 E. Zeballos
  • 9 M. Giménez
  • 30 T. Belmonte
  • 6 M. Rojo
  • 18 F. Fabra
  • 42 L. Blondel
  • 13 J. García
  • 33 B. Aguirre
  • 27 M. Braida
  • 12 L. Brey
  • 3 M. Saracchi
  • 14 I. Miramón
  • 11 L. Janson
  • 43 M. Delgado

Benfica

Formation: 4-3-3

Starting XI

  • 1 A. Trubin (G)
  • 26 S. Dahl (D)
  • 4 António Silva (D)
  • 30 N. Otamendi (D)
  • 3 Álvaro Fernández (D)
  • 8 F. Aursnes (M)
  • 61 Florentino (M)
  • 85 Renato Sanches (M)
  • 11 Á. Di María (F)
  • 14 V. Pavlidis (F)
  • 27 Bruma (F)

Substitutes

  • 18 L. Barreiro
  • 25 G. Prestianni
  • 17 K. Aktürkoğlu
  • 10 O. Kökçü
  • 19 A. Belotti
  • 71 Leandro Santos
  • 68 João Veloso
  • 47 Tiago Gouveia
  • 86 Diogo Prioste
  • 84 João Rêgo
  • 81 A. Bajrami
  • 64 Gonçalo Oliveira
  • 83 Rafael Luís
  • 75 André Gomes
  • 21 A. Schjelderup

Timeline

  1. Boca Juniors
    ?' Boca Juniors Card · Red Card
    Ander Herrera
  2. Boca Juniors
    20' Boca Juniors subst · Substitution 1
    Off: Ander Herrera · On: T. Belmonte
  3. Boca Juniors
    21' Boca Juniors Goal · Own Goal
    Nicolás Otamendi
  4. Boca Juniors
    27' Boca Juniors Goal · Normal Goal
    R. Battaglia · Assist: A. Costa
  5. Benfica
    44' Benfica Var · Penalty confirmed
    Nicolás Otamendi
  6. Benfica
    45' Benfica Goal · Penalty
    Á. Di María
  7. Benfica
    46' Benfica subst · Substitution 1
    Off: S. Dahl · On: A. Belotti
  8. Boca Juniors
    58' Boca Juniors subst · Substitution 2
    Off: A. Velasco · On: M. Giménez
  9. Benfica
    61' Benfica subst · Substitution 2
    Off: Bruma · On: K. Akturkoglu
  10. Benfica
    61' Benfica subst · Substitution 3
    Off: R. Sanches · On: Orkun Kökçü
  11. Boca Juniors
    65' Boca Juniors Card · Yellow Card
    Carlos Palacios

    Time wasting

  12. Boca Juniors
    65' Boca Juniors subst · Substitution 3
    Off: Miguel Merentiel · On: E. Zeballos
  13. Boca Juniors
    66' Boca Juniors subst · Substitution 4
    Off: Carlos Palacios · On: W. Alarcón
  14. Benfica
    68' Benfica Card · Yellow Card
    Álvaro Carreras

    Foul

  15. Benfica
    71' Benfica Var · Card upgrade
    A. Belotti
  16. Benfica
    72' Benfica Card · Red Card
    A. Belotti

    Foul

  17. Benfica
    77' Benfica subst · Substitution 4
    Off: Á. Di María · On: G. Prestianni
  18. Benfica
    83' Benfica Card · Yellow Card
    V. Pavlidis

    Argument

  19. Benfica
    84' Benfica Goal · Normal Goal
    Nicolás Otamendi · Assist: Orkun Kökçü
  20. Boca Juniors
    85' Boca Juniors Card · Yellow Card
    A. Costa

    Foul

  21. Boca Juniors
    88' Boca Juniors Card · Red Card
    Nicolás Figal

    Foul

  22. Benfica
    90' Benfica subst · Substitution 5
    Off: Florentino · On: L. Barreiro

Match Stats

Stat Boca Juniors Benfica
Fouls 13 8
Pass Accuracy 71% 84%
Offsides 1 4
Red Cards 2 1
Total Shots 10 8
Corners 4 7
Total Passes 270 419
Yellow Cards 2 2
Blocked Shots 5 1
Shots on Target 2 3
xG — —
Shots off Target 3 4
Possession 39% 61%
Goals Prevented — —
Accurate Passes 193 353
Shots Inside Box 5 7
Saves 1 0
Shots Outside Box 5 1

Key Match Notes

  • ▸ Benfica's early penalty after Nicolás Otamendi's own goal put them in a commanding position, but Boca Juniors quickly equalized through R. Battaglia and took the lead with an own goal from the same player.
  • ▸ The red cards to Ander Herrera (Boca Juniors) at the start of the game and Andrea Belotti (Benfica) later on significantly altered the momentum, leading to a more open match as both teams had to adjust their tactics.