What is expected from a Superclásico? It is the most popular sports event in the country, so the bar is always high for River and Bocawhich this Sunday meet again from 5 p.m., in the Monumentalfor the seventh date of the League Cupthat of the classics (Yael Falcón Pérez will be the referee). And for this edition (the 261st) the expectation is enormous because there is a promise of seeing an open match.
Of course, there can always be a rubbishbut at least in the preview the coaches of both teams threaten to go out to win and leave speculation aside, although on paper a tie seems like a good deal for both. But it’s not about points – not this time, at least – but about the image that each one takes away. Because it is well known that although the beansthere is always a winner and a loser.
So much Martin Demichelis as Diego MartinezThe coaches need a win to improve the image of the first rounds. It is true that River started betterbut the performance is not convincing and even seems to be getting worse (the last draw against Banfield shows this). Boca, on the other hand, is a team in formation with a new coach who seeks to translate his idea. For now, no major improvements have been seen and they have just suffered a hard blow against Lanús. Although the feeling is that he has everything to grow.
It’s not about numbers. Of the last 10 matches, River won 3 (the last two consecutively), Boca another 3 and they tied 4 times, of which in two the Xeneizes won on penalties (League Cup and Argentine Cup). The statistics are even, but it is known that in the last decade the Millionaire enjoyed this type of matches much more.
Demichelis will have the difficult challenge of revalidating that trend in front of his audience (the stadium will be packed with more than 80,000 fans) and to achieve their third victory in a row (which would be a record) against their eternal rival. Martínez will face his first Superclásico and if you look in the rearview mirror you will realize that there are no magic formulas: Battaglia defended himself in 2022 and won; Almirón did the same in 2023 and lost. He Gigolo has the opportunity to make an impact.
In the run-up to the classic, both coaches followed the same line: think about the goal in front, not negotiate intensity or attitude and be balanced and intelligent to manage the timing of the game. In theory everything is simple, but the truth will be on the court and the difference will be made by whoever masters the ball best, a fundamental element of this sport.
And at that point is when the manuals go to the trash. You have to know how to choose the players well. Demichelis has a big problem: he will not have Miguel Borja. The scorer arrives with the physical team and will be on the bench. If things go wrong, he will have to take risks and jump onto the playing field to try to take advantage of his power. So, River – whose fundamental premise is to attack – has a gap great in attack.
Micho He looked for variants all week and until the last moment the doubt will remain: who will accompany Facundo Colidio. Pablo Solari and Claudio Echeverri appear as candidates to cover the absence of the hummingbird. In the middle there are three names for two places: Fonseca, Aliendro and Villagra. The Uruguayan is just adapting to the team and the rhythm of Argentine football; the former Colón is far from his best level; and the brand new reinforcement has a more defensive profile.
The rest comes easy: Armani will be in goal; Herrera, Paulo Díaz, González Pírez and Enzo Díaz will form the back four line. Esequiel Barco will attack from the left towards the center and Nacho Fernández will lean on the right.
Boca is more complex. They will be on attack Miguel Merentiel and Edinson Cavani; Sergio Romero will be in goal; The defense will be the one that did not receive goals against Tigre, Defensa y Justicia and Central Córdoba, that is, Luis Advíncula, Cristian Lema, Jorge Figal and Lautaro Blanco. And in the middle are the doubts: Kevin Zenón is the only certainty; Then, Equi Fernández or Campuzano? Medina or Bullaude? Blondel or Jabes Saralegui? Beyond the names, for Martínez the dilemma lies in the game plan: he goes out to wait and try to counterattack like his predecessors or he bets on the stick by stick.
2024-02-25 05:00:12
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