Troglio Promises Car Raffle for Banfield Players if They Beat Boca in Copa Argentina Semifinal

Banfield manager Pedro Troglio has promised to raffle off an automobile among his squad if his team defeats Boca Juniors in the Copa Argentina semifinals.

The decisive match takes place on Saturday, November 14, at 19:00 local time at the Estadio Malvinas Argentinas in Mendoza.

Troglio acknowledged that the Xeneize enter the fixture as clear favorites. Speaking to TyC Sports, the 61-year-old coach explained that he still needs to secure a commercial sponsorship to fulfill the unusual incentive. “Cualquier cosa. No sé qué… Si conseguimos un canje en zona sur… Alguien que nos quiera dar una mano…” said Troglio, laughing when discussing the search for a southern district dealership willing to provide the vehicle.

Banfield closed the Clausura tournament with 15 points in 16 fixtures and in the 12th position of its zone, missing out on the elimination stage reserved for the top eight sides, and recorded only a single victory in its last 11 league matches by defeating Tigre 2-1 away on the 12th matchday.

Troglio added that if the club manages to lift the trophy, it would represent a dream for the institution, the squad, and all the supporters.

Tactical challenges and the threat of Leandro Paredes

Banfield enters the semifinal following a 2-2 draw against Atlético Tucumán on November 6, 2026, in the domestic tournament, a match where substitute Alexander Machado scored and Lautaro Gómez equalized from a free kick.

“Hemos estado trabajando toda la semana pensando en eso, después a veces… como siempre digo, todos sabemos que Paredes juega bárbaro y hay que marcarlo,” Troglio told urgente24, pointing out that stopping a top-tier player is rarely straightforward.

“A veces no la toca y a veces la toca igual, porque en definitiva sino sería muy fácil: ‘Che, marquemos a Paredes y no juega más, marquemos a Messi que no la toca’. La tocan igual, porque son buenos jugadores, entonces no es tan simple,” Troglio added regarding the difficulty of containing Leandro Paredes.

Drawing on past Copa Argentina upsets

To counter widespread predictions favoring Boca, Troglio referenced his own history in the knockout tournament. In the 2018 edition, his side eliminated Boca in the Round of 16 and River Plate in the semifinals before losing the final to Rosario Central.

“Ya me pasó en 2018 de tener en el camino en octavos a Boca y en semis a River. Eran los dos finalistas de la Libertadores en Madrid y los eliminamos a los dos,” Troglio recalled.

Banfield reached the final four by overcoming Real Pilar, San Martín de Tucumán, Midland, and Deportivo Riestra through various penalty shootouts and regulation stalemates. The winner in Mendoza will face Platense in the final on December 2, 2026, with the match broadcast live on TyC Sports.