Boca, River and a Superclásico with a lot up for grabs: pride, happiness and desire to fight for the title

Sorcerers, bets, chicanes, press conferences, chatting on the corner of each neighborhood, in the legendary café or through social networks, those virtual stalls. How many words are said – and written – on the Superclásico, but to five Hours It will be the moment of truth. So, everything that has been talked about will remain in the background. And it will be the turn of football.

Boca and River face each other and there are more than three points at stake. There will be pride, happiness and a champion run for the winner along the tournament stretch, regardless of what the other top teams do. It will weigh the frustration, sadness and a blow to the mental reserves of the loser.

There are many elements to be taken into account in the previous analysis. And questions, of course. How much will the club influence, that full Bombonera that will host the public in the Superclásico after three years? Who will hurt the absences of his key players the most? What position will they take? Who can be the key men? How much advantage will Marcelo Gallardo have over Hugo Ibarra, taking into account the flight hours of both?

To begin with, the Doll said what “Stimulates” plays on the banks of the Riachuelo, where there is a special reception for Boca, favors and lots of color. Statistics show that, since 2015, River have played eleven games with two wins, seven draws and two losses. Although there was a 2 to 2 he will always remember: the final of the Libertadores 2018 which led to the unforgettable feat of Madrid.

Of course, the last time they met at the Alberto J. Armando stadium, Boca won the League Cup on penalties.

The scenario, therefore, can play in Boca’s favor, as long as the encouragement does not turn into pressure or murmurs. On the green grass, as Angel Labruna liked to say, we will have to evaluate some other questions. When it comes to casualties, the injuries of Sebastián Villa and Exequiel Zeballos weaken the blue gold attack. Because the boy Luca Langoni (20 years old) is a great presence with three decisive goals in two games (the brace against Atlético Tucumán and the one that gave him the victory against Colón), but it is not known how he will react to his first duel of this nature. Marcos Rojo arrives moved. However, Luis Advíncula, Alan Varela and Pol Fernández return, who has respected the suspension date.

There is a detail, at least according to the team that Ibarra stopped in yesterday’s training: despite having used the 4-3-3, he added a midfielder and Negro will aim at 4-4-2 with the inclusion of Juan Ramírez and the departure of Norberto Briasco. For Martín Payero it will be his baptism in the classic.

Does this situation presuppose a duel played in the middle of the field, as Gallardo had imagined in the press conference on Friday? At least, that’s what the award-winning coach thinks. Without Bruno Zuculini (sent off against Barracas Central), alongside Enzo Pérez there will be Rodrigo Aliendro and Nicolás De La Cruz. Will the Uruguayan start from double five? The problem is who plays the role of the producer: Juan Fernando Quintero or Agustín Palavecino. The Colombian has one less pace. And if Pablo Solari, who tore the adductor in his left leg, doesn’t play, River will need more intensity.

However, Gallardo said he is doing better. He shouldn’t be left out. Nor that his replacement is Esequiel Barco. Lucas Beltrán is the only one confirmed in attack. Will it be 4-1-3-2 or 4-2-3-1? For him Dollthe schemes are flexible.

The truth is that they come also in returns and also with the same points in the table. No favorites appear except in bets. Codere, the official betting house that has been River’s main sponsor this year, revealed a statistic in its database that of the last 33 games played, the one with the red band was favored in 20. And taking Madrid as a starting point, in 10 out of 11. Today it pays between $ 2.40 and $ 2.50 in the bookmaker bracket. The triumph of Boca, between $ 3.05 and $ 3.20.

For the seer Juan de Dios, who correctly eliminated the River against the Tigre in the League Cup, this time the cards favor the Millionaire.

We will have to play, of course. And right there, the magic will belong to the players.