Superclásico: Almirón’s record against River and how it went in other classics

The story between Jorge Almiron AND River It will not be new from this Sunday in which the Superclásico will be played, but the coach already has extensive experience in dealing with the millionaire. The only topping – but no less – is that this will be the first time he’s done it from the substitutes’ bench. Mouthat 51 years old.

Despite being caught praying in the Basilica of Luján, the Xeneize coach can rely on statistics. Seven are the times in which Almirón has measured himself against the players who wear the shirt with the red band. And he managed to be his executioner on occasion. Duels were of all types: from international to national ones, including titles. Therefore, if there is something that cannot be argued about the former Elche, it is his lack of experience in matches against Núñez’s team.

Of those seven occasions in which Almirón faced the millionaire, the cold balance of numbers is negative; but when those matches are put into context, the scales tip in favor of the Boca coach. Almirón won 3 times against River and lost in the other 4 games. But in the most important duels the coach who was a Deportivo Español footballer celebrated.

02/20/2014: River 1-2 Godoy Cruz

The story started off on the right foot. The first confrontation was in February 2014, when Almirón visited Monumental as Godoy Cruz’s coach, a match in which he managed to take all 3 points by winning by 2-1 in the local tournament of that year, which will eventually be conquered by River, directed at that time by Ramon Diaz.

09/22/2014: River 4-1 independent

After leaving Tomba, DT’s fate would be in Independiente. With the Reds he would also face the Millionaire, already with Marcellus Gallardo present, as a visitor that same year. This time he would receive a victory: 4-1 in favor of River.

2017: four fights in just one year

It must have been three years before they interbred again. This time, with Almirón in charge of Lanús during perhaps the best phase of his coaching career. And it is precisely the duels against those of Núñez that have made it possible to remember the DT cycle in Garnet to this day. In that 2017, Jorge faced River four times, with a balance of two wins and two losses.

However, those triumphs were nothing more and nothing less than in the final of Argentine Super Cup, beaten 3-0, and second leg for the semi-finals of the Libertadores, won 4-2, with goals from Lautaro Acosta, Nicolás Pasquini and José Sand (2), sparked an epic comeback for the southern Buenos Aires club to secure their place in the final. Both duels were against Gallardo, in the hand-to-hand few he lost but which are among the best remembered of him during his time at River.

The two millionaire victories against Almirón that year were in the first leg of the semifinal, which was the result of 1-0 which will then end up being useless. But the remaining cross was worth celebrating as it was a win 3-1 for Gallardo’s men visiting the Fortress.

06/26/2022: River – Lanús 2-1

So you have to go back to last year to find the last time Almirón faced his rival next Sunday from 17:30. The same was also with Lanús, in its second stage, with what was a new defeat. The same was for 2-1 at the Monument.

Experience up to the cup is what Almirón has against what is now his biggest rival for the position he holds as manager of Boca. But one thing to consider is that Of his 4 visits to the Monumental, he managed to win only 1 time, while in the others he lost.

The draw in a confrontation born in 2014 does not yet have a record date. Likewise, Almirón may wish to match his record.

How has Almirón fared in other classics?

​Although his first Superclásico is only a few hours away, Almirón’s career, both in Argentina and abroad, has taken place in different clubs that have identified who his classic rival is. Therefore, you already know the attrition that these types of matches require, which in case of victory can save the semester of the club you work for.

Leading teams like Independiente, San Lorenzo, Lanús and Atlético Nacional de Colombia present all their coaches with the obligation to take responsibility for the game they play against their lifelong rival. And so it was the case that Almirón had to live in his respective passage through each of them.

Unlike the history with River, this stat is favorable for the DT: a total of Managed 11 classics, in which he was victorious in 5, was defeated in 3 and in the remaining 3 shared points with rival.

Where he had the best time was in Lanús, winning 3 of the 4 duels against Banfield (2-0, 2-0 and 4-2). The Drill held the rest (1-0).

Meanwhile, the classic Avellaneda and Porteño keep it with an impartial balance: a victory for Rojo (2-1) and another for Racing (1-0). Instead, managing San Lorenzo, he faced Huracán 3 times and on each occasion the result was a zero draw.

Abroad, specifically in Colombian football, he can claim to have Independiente Medellín as his son by beating them 2-0 in the only time they met.