Julián Álvarez starts greeting the river audience. (Photo: Fotobaires)
River will receive Lanús this Saturday at Monumental in a match corresponding to the fifth date of the Professional Football League. The duel will start at 20:30, will be refereed by Darío Herrera and broadcast by ESPN Premium.
Marcelo Gallardo no longer wants to lose ground and that is why he will keep some starters thinking about Wednesday’s match against Vélez for the first leg of the first knockout round of the Copa Libertadores. The only one who will rest this Saturday will be Enzo Pérez and perhaps the Uruguayan Nicolás De La Cruz will be able to join. Bruno Zuculini will play as a central midfielder.
The coach has not confirmed whether he will continue to play with two forwards or if he will again opt for the line of five midfielders. In defense, for his part, the Chilean Paulo Díaz will return in place of Leandro González Pirez.
It will be a special duel for Julián Álvarez, who will start greeting the fans. It will be the attacker’s last match (transferred to Manchester City) at Monumental for local tournaments (the return of Copa Libertadores against Vélez will remain).
Cordovan forward Matías Suárez was finally resigned on Saturday, but was not part of Gallardo’s squad. The one who will be on the bench will be the Colombian Juan Fernando Quintero, who has already added minutes on the last date.
Lanús, who will also start the round of 16 of the Copa Sudamericana against Ecuador Independiente del Valle next week, achieved his first victory in the domestic competition on the previous date: he beat Colón 1-0.
Coach Jorge Almirón will make a forced variation in the form: the winger Alexander Bernabei, transferred to Celtic of Scotland, will not play, and his place would be taken by the young Brian Caraballo.
Probable formations
River: Franco Armani; Emanuel Mammana, Paulo Diaz, David Martínez, Elías Gómez; Bruno Zuculini; Enzo Fernández, Santiago Simón, Nicolás De La Cruz, Esequiel Barco; Julian Alvarez. Trainer: Marcel Gallardo.
Lano: Fernando Monetti; Brian Aguirre, Matias Pérez, Diego Braghieri, Brian Caraballo; Ángel González, Tomás Belmonte, Maximiliano González, Lautaro Acosta; Lucas Varaldo, José Sand. Trainer: Jorge Almiron.
Referee: Dario Herrera.
Stage: Monumental.
Start time: 20:30
Transmission: ESPN Prime.
Source: Clarin
