Boca Juniors held to 0-0 by Platense at La Bombonera; Cavani returns but can’t find the net
La Bombonera witnessed a goalless stalemate as Boca Juniors and Platense played out a 0-0 draw in the fifth round of the Torneo Apertura. The home side failed to break through, fans expressed their frustration with whistles at the final whistle, and Edinson Cavani made a first appearance in three months but could not change the outcome.
Match overview: missed chances and a stubborn Platense
The contest never quite hit full intensity in the final third. Both teams struggled to fashion clear, sustained attacking sequences and the match settled into a tactical midfield battle. Platense defended resolutely and came closest from set pieces and moments of transition; a young Platense player rose highest from a corner but nodded the ball over the bar.
Substitutions punctuated the second half as both coaches chased a breakthrough. Boca introduced Milton Delgado for Leandro Paredes and later brought on Edinson Cavani for Miguel Ángel Merentiel, while Ángel Romero, Juan Ignacio Barinaga and others also made way. Platense responded with several changes of its own, including fresh attacking options in the final quarter.
The draw leaves Boca seventh in the table with seven points and Platense fifth with eight points after five rounds of the Apertura.
Cavani’s return: minutes on the clock but not the goal
Edinson Cavani’s reappearance was one of the main storylines. The striker, back in the matchday squad after a long spell on the sidelines for a persistent lumbalgia and a series of other physical setbacks, entered late in the second half. The reception from the crowd was muted—neither ovation nor heavy boos—and the player’s first clear involvement underlined the broader context: his instincts remain, but match sharpness is still being rebuilt.
Cavani picked out a good chance after a slide-rule pass from an attacking teammate and found himself one-on-one. He attempted to chip the keeper, but the effort lacked power and was blocked by the defense, leaving the sense that the striker’s timing and finishing require more minutes to return to previous levels. He has not scored since mid-November, and his path back to full fitness has been hampered by several injuries in the past year, including spinal and muscular problems that disrupted his preseason and training rhythm.
On the sidelines, the coaching staff had allowed Cavani to rejoin team sessions only in the days immediately before the match, limiting his on-field preparation to a handful of formal training games. The performance was a reminder that while his presence is important for leadership and positioning inside the box, the clinical edge that defines veteran strikers will likely need more competitive time to re-emerge.
What’s next: quick turnarounds and focus on results
Boca’s schedule is relentless; they return to La Bombonera on Friday, Feb. 20 at 8: 00 PM ET to host Racing. Platense will be back at home the following day, Saturday, Feb. 21 at 5: 00 PM ET against Barracas Central at the Estadio Ciudad de Vicente López. Both sides have little time to analyze the draw and recalibrate tactics and personnel as the Apertura table remains tight early in the campaign.
After a frustrating evening, Boca’s locker room faces questions about creativity in the final third and defensive balance. Coach Juan Ignacio Saborido described the point as a hard-fought result on a difficult pitch and noted his team’s intention to seek victory, while Leandro Paredes urged internal reflection, saying the performance “hurts” and that the squad must make tough self-criticism to improve. For now, the crowd’s whistles at the final whistle were a blunt reminder that expectations at La Bombonera remain high.
