Argentina, Superclasico: River Plate 0-1 Boca Juniors

At the Monumental in Buenos Aires, accidents before the match: hundreds of River fans tried to take advantage of the large turnout to enter the stadium without a ticket: 17 arrests

The first Superclasico in the yellow jersey is never forgotten. And Boca Juniors, who for the first time challenged River Plate without using the classic colors for the prediction – it is said – of a shaman, will certainly remember him with pleasure. Not so much for the performance, on the contrary: Gallardo’s team is preferred for games and occasions, but the Xeneizes take advantage of the only carelessness of the opposing defense to score the decisive goal with Villa.

Chaos

The atmosphere, as expected, is incandescent at the Monumental, even before the kick-off. Hundreds of River fans in fact tried to take advantage of the large turnout to enter the stadium without a ticket. The offenders clashed with the police, who arrested 17 people, while some managed to take advantage of the situation to pass the checks. On the pitch, Boca is impalpable throughout the first half. The game is very physical, the Millonarios try to create dangers with interesting triangulations on the trocar. The first blast is from Alvarez, who in the 7th minute shoots Barco’s cross, but he fails to coordinate well and the shot ends wide. He hits the mirror instead of the latter, when he collects Fernandez’s filter and ends a bit weak, all easy for Rossi (24 ‘). The future Manchester City player tries again five minutes later, when he gets rid of two defenders well and kicks, finding the opposition of the goalkeeper.

You change

Battle at the interval removes Advincula, several times close to the second admonition, and Benedetto, a non-paying spectator. Conditions not optimal for the attacker, who has recently returned from a muscle problem. Vazquez takes his place forward and is immediately noticed, with a cross-shot on which Armani has to put the gloves (49 ‘). At 54 ‘Boca passes: Pirez calls the exit of his goalkeeper, who hesitates; Villa took advantage of it, first bypassing the central and then the goalkeeper, and deposited on the net with an empty net. River Plate immediately increased the pressure, but punctually hit the wall raised by Rossi, providential on several occasions. It is when Rojo touches his own goal deflecting a free-kick with his head (56 ‘), on the next action when Alvarez shoots again blanks from an excellent position and on Quintero’s free-kick (67’). Four minutes later it is the crossbar that keeps his goal unclimbed, on Enzo Fernandez’s lopsided conclusion from the distance that is printed at the intersection. At 77 ‘the Xeneizes look forward for the last time: an excellent idea from Ramirez, who dribbles two men and looks for the far post; Armani is reactive and rejects, Romero fails the tap-in. On the other hand, Rossi still makes the parade that is worth the feat of the Monumental, conquered again after five years, flying on Palavecino’s header with a splendid shot of the kidneys in the final.

ttn-14