Why Did Boca Play Recoleta Away From La Bombonera?
Boca Juniors played their Copa Sudamericana match against Recoleta away from La Bombonera due to the condition of the pitch, which was still recovering following maintenance work and issues caused by heavy rain.
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Boca Juniors faced Recoleta in the Copa Sudamericana away from La Bombonera, a decision that was mainly driven by the condition of the pitch at the Xeneize's home stadium.
The club had been carrying out renovation and maintenance work on the field since the World Cup break, but one of the most affected areas still needed additional time to fully recover. The situation had already raised concerns during previous matches, when several players struggled with their footing and controlling the ball.
La Bombonera's Pitch Was Not Ready Yet
The area in front of the premium boxes was the section presenting the biggest problems. The club had reseeded that part of the field and carried out drainage work in an effort to address recurring issues whenever water accumulated on the pitch.
However, weather conditions in Buenos Aires delayed the recovery process and forced Boca to explore alternatives to prevent further damage during a stretch of consecutive home matches.
During a recent Copa Sudamericana match, the surface had already shown clear signs of deterioration. Leandro Paredes even expressed his frustration with the inconsistent way the ball bounced in certain areas of the field.
Boca Moved Its Home Match to Protect the Pitch
The club's intention had always been to remain at La Bombonera, but the schedule and the forecast of additional rain ultimately accelerated the decision to temporarily move its home matches elsewhere.
The Estadio Tomás Adolfo Ducó, home of Huracán, emerged as one of the main alternatives and ultimately hosted the international match against Recoleta.
Boca Juniors' priority was to give the field enough time to properly settle and prevent the problem from affecting the remainder of the semester.
It was not the first time the Xeneize had been forced to temporarily leave its stadium because of pitch-related issues. In February 2024, for example, Boca hosted Sarmiento at the Nuevo Gasómetro because of a similar situation.
Therefore, Boca's absence from La Bombonera against Recoleta was not the result of a suspension or a sporting decision. Instead, the temporary move was made to protect the pitch and allow the stadium to recover the conditions necessary to host matches again.
