Boca Juniors beat Defensa y Justicia in a tense finish to be crowned winners of the 2026 Argentine annual table. Enner Valencia’s goal deep into added time sealed the result and allowed the Xeneizes to celebrate with the trophy at La Bombonera.
Chileans Carlos Palacios and Williams Alarcón both began the match on the bench, but Palacios was in an upbeat mood afterwards. Speaking to TNT Sports Argentina, he admitted the moment had left him with goosebumps and described the title as the first goal the squad had set itself, adding that Boca had suffered before getting over the line.
A playful moment
The most light-hearted part of the interview came when he was asked what he had been drinking during the celebrations. He first said water with ice, then laughed and corrected himself: coca-cola with ice.
Eyes on the rest of the season
Palacios made clear that the squad’s ambitions do not end with the annual table. He pointed to the Copa Argentina, which Boca also want to win, and the Copa Sudamericana as further targets for the rest of the year. He stressed that the mentality needed to change as the team returned to training ahead of those fixtures.
He also credited the group led by coach Vasco Arruabarrena, describing a close unity in which everyone pulls in the same direction as a key factor in reaching the title.
Praise for Enner Valencia
Asked about Valencia, the scorer of the decisive goal, Palacios spoke warmly of the Ecuadorian’s knack for delivering when it matters most. He recalled that the striker had looked somewhat frustrated during the match, before finishing the chance that won it. He described Valencia as blessed and said his teammates were delighted to have him in the squad.
Source: www.latercera.com
