To the relief of the bosteros, Pratto has suffered a slight hamstring strain and will likely miss the first leg of the Libertadores semifinals. Not too concerning since we have Suarez, Borre, and Scocco (unlike the 2014 series where we had to start a young, inexperienced Gio Simeone in la bombonera after losing Mora and Cavegol to injuries), but still a shame considering how Pratto is the bostero’s boogeyman after what happened last year
I honestly think De La Cruz would be a bigger loss if he is unable to make it. Obviously, not the woeful version of the Uruguayan we saw in the Superclasico earlier this month, but the version against Huracan, Cerro Porteño, Racing, etc. If he brings his A game, he is a player I absolutely love and the Bosteros will be absolutely trembling in front of. Pratto is obviously a big bogey man, but lets not forget the torment Nacho Scocco unleashed on them last year. A stunning strike in La Bostanera and the clinching goal in Mendoza in the Supercopa Argentina... Which, at the time 8 months before the Libertadores dream final became a reality, was considered the Final of the Century. I think what will be key, regardless of who is up front, is the fluidity and interchanging in midfield with the likes of Palacios, Enzo, De La Cruz, and Nacho F in top form. That is the key to beating boca and if anything Suarez is the key forward to link with those four. We owe them a massive beating in Monumental after we left them off the hook September 1st. Lets go for it. Lets kill the tie 3-0 in the first leg.
The thing with Scocco is that he has looked slow and a shadow of his former self since returning from his injury. Obviously if he finds his form he will be fundamental, but based on his recent image I don’t know if he’ll be ready for such a match in just 11 days. I like the dynamics of the Suarez-Borre duo up front, we just need to hope Borre polishes his finishing ahead of the semis. One thing is missing a clear chance vs Godoy Cruz for Copa Argentina, and it’s another ********ing up in front of goal vs the bosteros in a series where every chance is gold. Anyway, can’t wait for this damn game to arrive! Vamos CAMPEON!!
So it looks like Pratto, Ponzio, Ferreira, and Lux will be unavailable for the first leg. De La Cruz and Quintero also are in doubt.. Suarez had to ice his ankle after Wednesday’s game, but he should arrive without problems.
LOL the weather forecast is predicting rain storms for the first leg of the Libertadores semifinals https://lapaginamillonaria.com/riverplate/Tormentas-en-el-Superclasico-del-martes-20190925-0012.html Why does this always happen when we have a Superclasico? Hopefully the game is able to be played without any troubles. If it gets postponed we're all going to go crazy, but at the same time if the pitch is flooded it will be impossible for River to play their trademarked passing game. Hopefully the rain doesn't interfere too much...
That's it Mane!!! Nacho makes it 2-0. This Boquita team has been so fvcking garbage all game. It's like we're playing against minnows out here.
God bless Alfaro for starting Soldano as a winger while keeping Zarate on the bench. Also thankful for many of his other illogical tactical decisions. May he have a long stay as Boca’s DT
Wanchope Abila disgusts me. I've said it for years since he was at Huracan. This guy is the biggest man on the pitch. Probably weighs 95 KG over 220 pounds, yet he not only dives, he throws himself on the ground and writhes around like he's having a seizure. He did this on one particular play when Armani was coming to claim and Wanchope threw himself into Pinola's back, fell on the ground rolling around, then was laughing at the ref demanding a penalty... Honestly, I think the biggest flaw in south american and especially Argentine football is that if one team gets a big decision their way early, the ref then completely inclines the field and match for the other team. The penalty on Borre was as big as El Monumental itself, as Clarin put it, yet after the call was made, the Brazilian literally made every call in favor of Boca. How Izquierdoz, Lopez, and Mas remained on the pitch for 90 minutes is a joke. if this game had been a European match, all three would've been sent off. Abila would've been booked and possibly sent off as well. Various boca players should've seen red after the final whistle for protesting (god knows what) I know the Brazilian sent off the muerto Capalbo in the dying seconds, but it was a make up call to seem fair for an awful match he had. The kid was already going to be suspended for the second leg, so giving him a red literally didn't change anything. Obviously River was the superior team. I would've slept a lot better had we gotten a third goal though. One thing I will say about this Boca team, is that Salvio and Zarate are their two best players. How Alfaro put them on the bench is honestly beyond comprehension. I think even Villa offers so much more more than a player like Soldano. IF he starts them in the second leg, we will be under fire, but I am confident we can score in la bombonera again. Its far from over, but River needs to be confident that we are by far the better team. When we are on our game, Boca can't hang. VAMOSSSSS
I haven’t been watching Boca enough to give a personal assessment, but apparently Villa has been utter dog shit for them for a while now. This was a popular meme spreading among Boca fans days before the Superclasico: Now, at least to me, it would have still been more logical to start an out-of-form natural right winger over playing a mediocre 9 way out of position, but I really wasn’t aware that the Colombian was doing that bad in Boca. It’s funny (and honestly kind of sad) how many careers Gallardo has destroyed. All the guys the bosteros hate nowadays used to be their favorite players before River got a hold of them
Point well taken Loco. I haven't watched Boca at all either, but i do remember Villa from the last Libertadores causing much trouble. Honestly, it just shows how lucky we are that Alfaro is their manager. It also shows how much we left them off the hook by only winning 2-0 and not managing to win the league clasico. I am confident about the return. If we score just 1 goal, they'll need to get 4, which I don't see happening, and considering the last two times we went there we scored 2 goals each, they'd need to get 5 in that case. Obviously, the match is far from over, but River needs to be confident and know that its boca who is up against it, not us. Even after the first goal, I thought our players were two nervous in the first half, it wasn't til the second half that our football shone through. It will be much easier for us now because Alfaro will actually have to attacking, and we saw how much space opened up the few times they did in the second half
The defense was a mess today.. What do you guys think about Nahuel Gallardo and Angileri? Should they continue at the club past December?
Nahuel really sucks. I don’t remember him having a decent showing at all. Granted he’s only 20 so maybe he’s still got some room for growth. Regardless of what I think of Nahuel, I feel like he’ll be sticking around the club for longer for obvious reasons. As for Angieleri, that River shirt is just too heavy for him. Fine player for a small club like Godoy Cruz with no pressure but he just doesn’t cut it.
Nahuel Gallardo is awful; Angileri I think is still adjusting, Gallardo's tactics are very demanding for our full backs, and he hasn't really played much at all. That said, I'm also well aware that Angileri was a stopgap signing to cover for an injury, so I don't expect much from him in general.
Angileri has the luck that Casco's case precedes his: I think it's still fresh in people's heads just how much they wanted to kill Milton before he became the fan favorite he is today, so there's a bit more patience with Angileri than there probably would have been in the past. I don't see him getting quite to Casco's level, but hopefully he ups his game a bit in the near future. The other benefit of the doubt I give him is that the midfield is full of holes when we play an alternative side, which makes it hard for anyone to display their optimal form. Too much space to cover and work to do when your accompanying midfielders are completely offensive players like Carrascal and Julian Alvarez (+ a green Sosa). Still, no doubt he needs to begin showing a bit more in the future. I agree with you guys on Nahuel Gallardo... still young, but doesn't give the impression that he'll ever be up to standard. Hell, even Luis Olivera looked more promising when he was given chances earlier in the Gallardo era. Might be time to give him the door, or at the very least send him on loan to a Argentinos Jrs or San Martin
I agree with all about both Angeleri and N. Gallardo... I am feeling confident about Tuesday. Even if things go badly, I love that fact that we'll have Juanfer and Scocco on the bench. Juanfer is just such a delight to watch and we know boca will be fearing him. He looked imperious against Arsenal. And what to say about Scocco? Does anyone have a a sweeter right foot in world football? Obviously, I am not saying he is best striker in the world, but in terms of just hitting a ball with power and force, I don't think anyone does it better. CRACK