Overview
- Vasco won 1-0 at La Bombonera on Tuesday with Adson scoring the only goal to take a slim advantage into the second leg.
- The visitors held the lead despite being reduced to ten men for more than 25 minutes, with goalkeeper Léo Jardim and defenders Alan Saldivia and Robert Renan cited for key saves.
- Boca played without midfielder Leandro Paredes because of a pre-match injury and Argentine media criticized coach Rodolfo Arruabarrena for failing to compensate tactically.
- Vasco captain Thiago Mendes stoked tensions by posting an AI-generated image of himself ripping Boca's crest and said Boca would feel pressure from Vasco fans in the return.
- The return match scheduled for October 20 has no confirmed stadium as Vasco seeks the Maracanã, a dispute with the Maracanã operators continues, and CONMEBOL has left open the option of moving the game to another site such as Asunción.