Boca Juniors and River Plate, Argentina's two most successful and widely supported clubs, clash in what promises to be an action-packed Argentine Superclasico at the Bombonera stadium in Buenos Aires on Sunday.
Both teams head into the Superclasico in contrasting situations, as while Boca languish in 18th place, with just 9 points, River are in third place with 21 points, just five points behind league leaders Lanus who have played one game more.
River are clearly in the title race, while Boca, who have no chance of fighting for the title are focusing all of their energy on the Copa Libertadores. Boca took a big step towards the quarter-finals of the competition after beating defending champions Corinthians 1-0 last week.
However, the Superclasico is the biggest fixture in the Argentine soccer calendar, and there's no question that no matter their situation, both teams will play their hearts out to inflict defeat upon their fierce rivals at a cram-packed Bombonera.
What adds an extra dimension to the derby this season, is that it will see legendary coaches Carlos Bianchi, of Boca, and Ramon Diaz, of River, head-to-head. Both coaches have won their respective clubs numerous titles in the past.
Bianchi will make a few changes to the side that beat Corinthians, but while it seemed that he would provide striker Santiago Silva with a starting role, in fact he will maintain Juan Manuel Martinez and Nicolas Blandi, the two strikers who took the field against the Brazilians, up front.
Playmaker and captain Juan Roman Riquelme has yet to recover from injury and will miss the game, even though it initially appeared that he would be match fit.
Arch-rivals River have few injury concerns, but Diaz is still expected to make some slight modifications to his side. Uruguayan striker Rodrigo Mora, who has starred in the most recent derbies, will lose his place to Juan Iturbe, who will lead the line alongside Rogelio Funes Mori.
Meanwhile, captain Leonardo Ponzio will return to the starting eleven, in the place of Ariel Rojas. French striker David Trezeguet has struggled a great deal this season, due to fitness problems and injury and will not even appear on the substitute's bench.
Boca Juniors' last four matches
May 1, 2013: Boca Juniors 1-0 Corinthians (Copa Libertadores)
Apr 27, 2013: Estudiantes 1-0 Boca Juniors (Argentine League)
Apr 21, 2013: Boca Juniors 0-0 Belgrano (Argentine League)
Apr 17, 2013: Toluca 3-2 Boca Juniors (Copa Libertadores)
River Plate's last four matches
Apr 28, 2013: River Plate 1-1 Quilmes (Argentine League)
Apr 24, 2013: River Plate 0-1 Estudiantes BA (Copa Argentina)
Apr 21, 2013: Godoy Cruz 1-2 River Plate (Argentine League)
Apr 14, 2013: River Plate 1-1 Arsenal (Argentine League)
Facts
- In 189 meetings between the rivals, Boca have won 69, River have won 62 and there have been a total of 58 draws.
- The last time Boca beat River at the Bombonera was in the 2011 Clausura Championship, thanks to a goal from Martin Palermo and an own goal from Juan Pablo Carrizo.
