The next chapter of Boca Vs River arrives this Sunday at 15.00 at La Bombonera, with the Superclásico once again carrying the weight of a rivalry that has changed hands across different eras. The all-time record still belongs to Boca, who lead the head-to-head with 94 victories to River's 88.
That is the broad shape of a contest that has been played 266 times, with the balance still tight enough to keep every new meeting alive with history. The numbers show just how often the rivalry has swung, and why this fixture remains one of the most closely watched in South American football.
A rivalry that has changed over time
It all began on 24 de agosto de 1913, when Boca and River met for the first time at Racing. Since then, the record has moved back and forth through different periods, with River holding a slight edge between 1913 and 1950 at 23 wins to Boca's 21.
In the 1950s, Boca began to take control of the rivalry and moved ahead to 42 wins against River's 39. River responded in the 1980s and regained the lead, reaching 63 wins to Boca's 61, before Boca moved back in front in the 1990s after a 4-3 win over River in the 1991 Copa Libertadores.
The numbers behind the Superclásico
Across the full historical record, Boca and River have played 266 times, with Boca's 94 wins edging River's 88. There have also been 84 draws, and the goals tally is similarly tight, with Boca on 342 and River on 323.
There is one historical wrinkle that helps explain why different tallies can appear in the record. A 0-0 draw in 1919 is not counted here because the tournament was annulled, which affects how some versions of the head-to-head are presented.
Since the professional era began in 1931, the clubs have faced each other 209 times in Primera División matches. That long run underlines why the Superclásico is never just another fixture, even when the numbers are only part of the story.
What comes next
This Sunday's meeting at La Bombonera for fecha 15 of the Clausura will add another line to a rivalry that has already produced 113 years of history. Boca may lead the all-time record, but River will arrive knowing that every Superclásico offers a chance to shift the balance again.
