Boca Juniors vs River Plate Match Preview
Two teams in a tight situation will face each other on Argentina's most popular match. But more than three points will be in play for both sides
Without a doubt this will be one of the strangest Superclasico in years, as both Boca Juniors and River Plate appear to have left their place as Argentina's major teams to other, but nonetheless their fans are waiting for this game with the same expectation as every other year. River has the upper hand for this match, as during the summer Leo Astrada shown they're in better shape than the Xeneizes, as this first half of the tournament has clearly shown. Will Roman Riquelme and his team let Leo Astrada leave the Bombonera with three points?
The awakening
During the last months River has been lacking a solid striker, and without him the midfielder didn't have a lighthouse to aim for. But Gustavo Canales has joined the team and lived up to the expectations, quickly becoming team's top striker (not that hard as the Millonarios scored only 8 goals in the whole tournament) and one of the heroes for team's fans.
This match will be decisive for River to solidify their performance of last weeks, which have fed their dreams of joining the top fight.
Marcelo Gallardo and Matias Almeyda, two historical Millonarios players will probably lean the game to River's side thanks to their experience.
Team's goalkeeper Daniel Vega declared he does not want to be the man to receive Martin Palermo's first goal as Boca's historical striker, especially not during the derby. Leo Astrada knows the Loco will be eager to celebrate at home such a honor, so much defensive work will probably take place within the week to stand an opportunity against the raging Xeneizes.
The falling
Boca's situation is critical. Never in their whole history have they stand as low in the positions table as this year, and team's coach has become the scapegoat of all their problems. Abel Alves seems to be doing everything he can to leave the club, as his declarations of Roman Riquelme and Martin Palermo seeing the match from the bench.
Such a suicidal declaration was prohibited by team's directives in a fitting time, as it'd have been regarded as a back stab by La Doce. Team's players do not have the confidence needed to defend their place, as they know team's coach has an unstoppable urge to chance the starting eleven week after week.
Lucas Viatri will probably be the man that'll join Martin Palermo in the offensive, as Alves has declared he's surprised by his progress during week's training. It is yet to see whether Pocho Insua or Nicolas Gaitan will be on the fields, as they need an unbalancing player to couple with Roman Riquelme and take most of the play on River's side.
Historical Facts
This is one of the matches most played during Argentinean football, 324 times in all competitions. Local matches played were won by Boca 67 times, six more than their opponent, having scored 11 goals too over the Millonarios. Martin Palermo is one of the top strikers in the history of this derby, having scored seven times. Only 14 times the match ended with a draw without goals, and so it'll be quite possible for Martin Palermo to leapfrog Roberto Cherro as Team's top scorer.
