Boca Juniors claimed a narrow 1-0 victory over O'Higgins in the first leg of their Copa Sudamericana playoff match held at La Bombonera. Leandro Paredes, who recently returned from the World Cup, played a pivotal role in the match, providing an assist that led to the only goal scored by Miguel Merentiel just before halftime.

Paredes, who captained the team, showcased his skills by delivering a perfectly timed pass to Merentiel in the 44th minute, allowing the striker to finish with precision past O'Higgins' goalkeeper, Omar Carabalí. This match marked Paredes' return to Boca Juniors after participating in the World Cup final, where Argentina fell to Spain.

Despite facing criticism for a post-match altercation with Spanish players, Paredes received a warm welcome from the Boca fans. The match also saw the debut of goalkeeper Álvaro Montero and winger Sebastián Villa, the latter of whom faced mixed reactions from the crowd due to his controversial past with the club.

O'Higgins, who finished second in Group C of the Sudamericana, had its chances, including a close attempt that hit the crossbar. However, Boca Juniors controlled much of the possession in the second half, ensuring their slim lead heading into the return leg next week in Rancagua.

With this win, Boca Juniors aims to advance to the next round of the tournament, where they will face Paraguayan team Recoleta if they secure their spot.