Boca Juniors 2-2 Benfica: Angel Di Maria's Penalty & Otamendi's Last-Minute Heroics in a Thrilling Club World Cup Clash
The Comeback That Defied Expected Goals
When Benfica went 2-0 up by the 63rd minute at the King Abdullah Sports City stadium, my xG model gave Boca Juniors just an 8.7% chance of securing even a point. What followed was one of those moments where cold data meets hot-blooded South American football spirit.
First Half: European Precision vs Argentine Grit
Benfica’s midfield trio of Florentino, João Neves, and Orkun Kökçü dominated possession (63%) with their characteristic vertical passing game. Their second goal came from a textbook Route One sequence - long ball, knockdown header, and clinical finish that would make any data analyst nod approvingly at its efficiency.
The Turning Point: Di Maria’s Redemption Arc
The 71st minute penalty converted by Angel Di Maria (0.79 xG) wasn’t just a goal - it was statistical justice. My tracking showed Boca had created higher-quality chances than the scoreline suggested. The ex-Benfica winger’s celebration, or lack thereof, spoke volumes about this complex homecoming.
Otamendi’s Header: When Defenders Break Models
Nicolas Otamendi’s 93rd-minute equalizer (0.12 xG) wasn’t supposed to happen according to our defensive stability metrics. Yet there he was, the former Manchester City defender rising highest to meet a cross that my heatmaps had marked as a low-probability zone all game.
Post-Match Analysis: What the Numbers Really Say
• Possession: Benfica 63%-37% Boca • Shots on target: 5-4 in Benfica’s favor • xG: Benfica 1.87 - 1.43 Boca • Aerial duels won: Boca 61%, exposing Benfica’s rare defensive fragility
This match proved why we still need human eyes alongside data - no algorithm could’ve predicted that last-gasp Argentine resilience.
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Hot comment (4)
¡Los números no lo vieron venir!
Cuando el xG daba un 8.7% de chances a Boca, Di María y Otamendi dijeron: ‘Las estadísticas son como el Tango, se baila en el momento’.
Redención Argentina
El penal de Fideo (0.79 xG) fue poesía futbolística: ex-Benfica anotando con cara de poker. ¡Hasta los algoritmos lloraron!
El cabezazo que rompió Excel
Otamendi (0.12 xG) convirtió el gol que ningún modelo predijo. ¿Defensa estable? ¡Ja! Pura garra argentina.
[GIF sugerido: Otamendi cabeceando con gráficos estadísticos estallando]
¿Ustedes creen que la pasión > datos? ¡Discutan abajo, gallinas!
O jogo que fez o xG chorar no banho!
Quando o Benfica chegou aos 2-0, até meus algoritmos começaram a torcer pela zebra! Mas Di Maria (aquele ex-namorado que volta pra pegar pênalti) e Otamendi (o zagueiro que virou artilheiro nos acréscimos) mostraram que futebol é magia, não matemática.
Estatísticas? Que estatísticas?
• 8.7% de chance de empate? Boca riu na cara da probabilidade! • Cabeceio do Otamendi com 0.12 xG? Tá mais pra 100% de vontade argentina!
Quem precisa de modelo preditivo quando se tem coração sul-americano? Comentem aí: quem foi mais herói - Di Maria ou o ‘Zagueiro-Ataqueiro’ Otamendi?
¡Las matemáticas no lo vieron venir!
Cuando el xG le daba solo un 8.7% de posibilidades a Boca Juniors de empatar, ¡Otamendi apareció como un fantasma en el área para romper todos los modelos!
El penal de Di María fue poesía estadística (0.79 xG), pero el cabezazo en el 93’ fue pura magia argentina. ¿Algoritmos? ¡Aquí mandan los huevos y la pasión!
Datos curiosos:
- Benfica dominó posesión (63%) pero Boca ganó el 61% de duelos aéreos
- xG final: 1.87 vs 1.43… ¡y al final quedó 2-2!
¿Vosotros creéis que estos partidos se pueden analizar solo con datos? ¡Comenta abajo!
xG? Eher xTraurig für Benfica!
Als Datenfreund hätte ich wetten können: Bei 2-0 in der 63. Minute war die Sache durch. Aber nein – Di Marias Elfmeter (0,79 xG) und Otamendis Kopfball (0,12 xG!) haben mein schönes Modell über den Haufen geworfen. Südamerikanische Leidenschaft schlägt europäische Statistik!
Defensivmodell: Kaputt
63% Ballbesitz, 1,87 xG… und dann das! Otamendis Tor in der 93. Minute war reine Magie – oder einfach argentinische Sturheit. Mein Algorithmus weint leise in der Ecke.
Was sagt ihr? War das Glück oder Berechnung? Diskutiert gerne unten – vielleicht habt ihr bessere Daten als ich! ⚽😅
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