River and Boca leave with the idea of ​​not speculating on a special Superclásico for the Professional League Cup

What do you expect from a Superclásico? It’s the most popular sporting event in the country, so the bar is always high River and Bocawho this Sunday meet starting from 5pm, in Monumentalfor the seventh appointment of League Cupthat of the classics (Yael Falcón Pérez will be the referee). And for this edition (the 261st) the anticipation is enormous because there is the promise of seeing an open game.

Of course there can always be a garbagebut at least in the preview the coaches of both teams threaten to win and leave speculation aside, even if on paper the draw seems like a good deal for both. But it’s not about the points – not this time, at least – but about the image that each of them takes away. Because it is well known that although the beansthere is always a winner and a loser.

Much Martin Demichelis AS Diego MartinezThe coaches need a win to improve the image of the first rounds. It is true that River started betterbut the performance is not convincing and even seems to be getting worse (this is demonstrated by the last draw against Banfield). Boca, on the other hand, is a team in the making with a new coach trying to translate his idea. For now, no great improvements have been seen and they have just suffered a serious blow against Lanús. Even if the feeling is that he has everything to grow.

It’s not a question of numbers. Of the last 10 matches, River have won 3 (the last two consecutive), Boca another 3 and have drawn 4 times, of which the Xeneizes won two on penalties (League Cup and Argentine Cup). The statistics are even, but it is known that in the last decade the Millionaire has enjoyed these types of games much more.

Demichelis will have to face the difficult challenge of reconfirming that trend in front of his audience (the stadium will be packed with more than 80,000 fans) and to obtain the third consecutive victory (which would be a record) against the eternal rival. Martínez will face his first Superclásico and if you look in the rearview mirror you will realize that there are no magic formulas: Battaglia defended himself in 2022 and won; Almirón did the same in 2023 and lost. He Gigolo has the opportunity to make an impact.

In the period leading up to the classic, both coaches followed the same line: think about the goal in front, do not negotiate intensity or attitude and be balanced and intelligent in managing the timing of the match. In theory it’s all simple, but on the pitch the truth will be there and the difference will be made by those who master the ball better, a fundamental element of this sport.

And that’s when the manuals end up in the trash. You have to know how to choose players well. Demichelis has a big problem: he won’t have it Miguel Borja. The scorer arrives with the physical team and will go to the bench. If things go wrong, they will have to take risks and take to the field to try to exploit their power. So, River – whose basic premise is to attack – has a split excellent in attack.