Superclásico Preview - River Plate vs Boca Juniors

[Golden_Boy™]

This Sunday sees, arguably, the biggest derby in world football with the 324th Superclásico between River Plate and Boca Juniors.

The match will take place at River's El Monumental stadium and will be a 53,000-capacity sellout. All anyone in Argentina is talking about this week is Superclásico; team news, interviews with former greats of both sides, reflections on the classic games of the past, a million contrasting stories regarding who’s injured, who’s going to make it and who’s not (not really much to report there apart from River being without a recognized striker) etc. etc. etc.

In fact, the only story that even threatened to make it past the news embargo was Diego Maradona’s unapologetic apology in the wake of his post-match hijinks in Montevideo, “"I apologised to the ladies, not to those who talk about football on television... It was a release but I don't regret it,” said the coach before reminding everyone that it was in fact said post-watershed.

If there is one thing Argentinians know how to do, it’s hype. Imagine your Super Duper Heavyweight Champion Of All Champions, It’s Not Bad This League, Title Deciding Double Bill Big Four Sky Sports Sensational Sunday- and double it.

To be perfectly honest, both sides have been pretty horrible this season. River Plate sit way down in 16th with just six points, having won just one of their nine games, while Boca Juniors are all the way up there in…10th.

We’re at the halfway point of this season’s Apertura Championship, and as you can probably tell from their respective league positions, it hasn’t really gone to plan for either of the two giants of Argentine football.

Boca Juniors started the season poorly; in fact coach Alfio Basile offered his resignation just three weeks ago, but after a few kind words from club manager Carlos Bianchi and club captain Juan Roman Riquelme, he decided to stick at it and Boca have won their last three in a row. They sit five points off San Lorenzo in first place and are desperate to win the title this season; failure to do so would see them fail to qualify for the Copa Libertadores- which would be disastrous.

River Plate, oh River Plate, the last few seasons have been unimaginably disastrous. Following their Clausura championship in 2008, River finished the 2008/2009 Apertura rock bottom. Last season was supposed to be one of stabilisation for the club; they finished in 8th place. This season they were supposed to be kicking on for the league title. River began the season poorly and coach Néstor Gorosito resigned after their defeat to San Lorenzo less than a month ago.

River replaced Gorosito with former player Leonardo Astrada. However, the former fan favourite hasn’t done too well since taking over, a 3-1 home defeat to Independiente in his first match in charge and a 0-0 draw at struggling Huracan last week.

Basile, as usual, will look towards his two talismans to inspire his side to victory, with Martin Palermo expected to return after fracturing his nose against Peru and Riquelme coming into the match in fine form. "Riquelme is among the three best [players] in the world. Riquelme conducts everything," said the coach.

As for Astrada, he doesn’t really have a couple of greats to turn to, both Ortega and Marcelo Gallardo are way past it, and so, as he did in his playing days, will look for a victory achieved through passion and hard work, this week he said, "You have to play Boca with your heart more than with your head."

So, this weekend's Superclásico is just a match between a two struggling sides in Argentina, both desperately struggling, everything about the game tells you it’s one hardly worth watching, especially for neutrals.

But, this is no ordinary game. The league positions of the two sides mean nothing. This is no run-of-the-mill domestic clash; this is SUPER CLASICO! It divides friends, ends marriages, splits families; it is an all encompassing monster that totally devours the entire country for at least a weekend- hell, it’s the biggest game in club football!

Dare you miss it?

[Golden_Boy™]

Superclásico Ends All Square: River Plate 1-1 Boca Juniors

While River were simply looking to stop the rot tonight, Boca came into tonight’s game as the in-form side, having won their last three in a row. The away side were also boosted by the return of a masked Martin Palermo, who returned to action following a fractured nose sustained on international duty in Montevideo with Argentina.

However, it was River who made all the early running. The home side attacked Boca from the outset with pace and invention, something that had been desperately lacking from their performances so far this season, headed by young midfielder Diego Buonannote.

The first major chance of the game fell to Matias Abelairas just ten minutes in, when the midfielder found himself all alone inside the box, but his low shot across Abbondanzieri shaved the post and went wide. River continued to attack their rivals and an Ortega goal was ruled out for offside a few minutes later.

Boca’s first real effort on goal came after quarter of an hour when Ariel Rosada’s shot from outside the box whistled past the post. Boca just couldn’t get going, as even Riquelme was guilty of misplacing passes as his sides frustration increased.

River had the chance to take the lead 25 minutes in when Diego Buonanotte broke into the box only to be hacked down by Rosada. Ariel Ortega stepped up to take the penalty but Abbondanzieri got down low to his left to save the veteran's spot-kick.

River’s pressure eventually told just four minutes later. Diego Buonanotte was the inspiration again, breaking from the deep; the little midfielder won a free kick which was expertly dispatched by Marcelo Gallardo. The former Monaco man swerved his shot over the wall and into the top corner, giving Abbondanzieri no chance.

River went in to half time looking comfortable, but were down ten men less than a minute into the second half. Cristian Villagra received his marching orders for a second bookable offence following a trip on Battaglia. Less than five minutes later, it was 10-a-side as Julio Cáceres saw red after stupidly lashing out.

Boca took charge and their equaliser came just after the hour mark when, who else, but Martin Palermo smashed in a low shot from the edge of the box.

Boca dominated from then on but despite a number of winning a number of set pieces in dangerous areas, they failed to capitalise and the game ended all square.