Católica nightmare: Boca out of Libertadores at home
Boca Juniors were eliminated from the Copa Libertadores group stage after losing to Universidad Católica at La Bombonera (3). A result that should never happen at home, in a match that was effectively a knockout final. The club sits second in the league with 30 points from 16 matches and a +13 goal difference, but none of that matters right now, this is a continental failure that cuts deep.
Riquelme under fire
The fallout is landing squarely on club president Juan Román Riquelme. Fans are turning, and the criticism is no longer just about results, it's about the entire project. An Olé poll asks who is responsible for the "papelón" and Riquelme is at the center of that conversation (1) (3). The idol status buys time, but elimination at this stage burns through goodwill fast.
Paredes trains, no injury concern
In the one positive note of the day, Leandro Paredes trained normally after his national team call-up and no muscle injury was found (2). He's fit and preparing for the World Cup. At least one Boca player has something to look forward to.
Fan reactions
The mood on r/BocaJuniors is raw. One fan put it plainly: "No terminó ni la secundaria y es presidente de Boca, ¿en qué estaban pensando los que lo votaron?" Others are calling out players like Giménez and Velasco, suggesting they need a yearly licence renewal just to prove they're still footballers. There's also a wave of nostalgia for the Angelici era, a sentence no Boca fan ever expected to type. Read more on Reddit
