# Boca Juniors Reserve Defeats Defensa y Justicia Ahead of Senior Match Mariano Herrón's squad secures a 2-0 victory, boosting playoff hopes before Saturday's senior clash. - **Source:** [Olé](https://www.ole.com.ar) - **Published:** 2026-11-05 - **Topic:** [sports](https://brifing.si/c/sports) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/db7016bd-3762-42b0-b658-ca2e244c07fa ## Strategic Reserve Victory Boca Juniors' reserve team secured a vital 2-0 win against Defensa y Justicia this Thursday. Managed by Mariano Herrón, the squad climbed to third place in Zone B of the Torneo Clausura de Proyección 2026. This result provides significant momentum for the club ahead of the senior team's upcoming weekend match. ## Mirroring Senior Fixtures The reserve match serves as a precursor to the senior team's encounter against the same opponent this Saturday at La Bombonera. While the youth squad played away, the senior team under Rodolfo Arruabarrena faces a critical battle at 17:30. This match is decisive for their standing in the annual league table. ## Ferreira Leads Attack Kevin Román Ferreira emerged as the standout performer, directly contributing to both goals. His precise delivery from a corner kick allowed Gadiel Paoli to score the opener in the 38th minute. Ferreira later provided a clinical through-ball for Rodrigo Bacidalupe, who doubled the lead with a diagonal run and cross-shot. ## Breaking Defensive Lines Boca dominated possession throughout the first half but initially struggled to penetrate the compact Defensa y Justicia defense. The breakthrough came via a set-piece, highlighting the team's tactical versatility. In the second half, the game opened up, allowing Boca to exploit spaces and secure a comfortable two-goal lead by 61 minutes. ## Goalkeeper Prevents Rout Despite Boca's dominance, the scoreline remained at 2-0 due to the efforts of Defensa y Justicia goalkeeper Uriel Ramos. Ramos made several key saves that prevented the visitors from extending their lead further. His performance kept the match competitive until the final whistle, despite the clear tactical superiority shown by Boca. ## Playoff Qualification Status With this victory, Boca reached 31 points, maintaining their third-place position in Zone B. The team currently holds a two-point lead over the fourth-place side with only two rounds remaining in the regular phase. Independiente leads the group with 37 points, followed by Lanús, who currently sits at 36 points. ## Upcoming Schedule Challenges The reserve squad must quickly shift their focus toward the next challenge in the Clausura tournament. They are scheduled to host Newell's on Thursday, November 12, at 19:00 at Boca Predio. Securing points in this upcoming fixture is essential for the team to guarantee their spot in the quarter-final playoffs. ## Broader Club Context This reserve win highlights the internal pressure within Boca Juniors as the senior team prepares for a defining weekend. The club is balancing youth development with the immediate necessity of success in the annual standings. The synergy between these squads remains a focal point for the coaching staff during this period. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.ole.com.ar/boca-juniors/boca-arruabarrena-vasco-marianoherron-torneoclausuradeproyeccion2026-bombonera-rodolfoarruabarrena-bocapredio_0_bGHBlz6LPB.html — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._