Boca Juniors edged Atletico Paranaense 1-0 in a pre-season friendly at Estadio Padre Ernesto Martearena, with L. Blanco's 27th-minute strike proving decisive.
Blanco broke the deadlock with a normal goal, capitalizing before the half-hour mark to give Boca the lead they would not relinquish. The goal came amid a tense opening period that saw yellow cards shown to a Boca player in the 31st minute, followed swiftly by cautions for Atletico Paranaense's Jadson (32') and Claudinho (40'), as tempers frayed.
Atletico Paranaense made a mass overhaul at halftime, introducing six substitutes in one go — Luiz Gustavo, Arthur Dias, Jadson, Renan Peixoto, Claudinho and S. Mendoza all coming on for the second half in a clear rotation exercise.
The visitors' afternoon worsened just past the hour when Santos was sent off in the 60th minute, reducing them to ten men. Atletico Paranaense continued shuffling their side regardless, adding Zapelli in the 61st minute and Aguirre in the 74th, taking their substitution count to eight for the match.
Boca also used their bench extensively, making eight changes across two waves — three at the 58th minute (Belmonte, Costa, Velasco) and five more at the 67th (Figal, Flores, Brey, Blanco himself withdrawn, and Ascacibar), as manager rotated a full complement of options.
A late yellow card for Boca in the 82nd minute added to the disciplinary tally, but the hosts held firm to secure the narrow victory.