Unexpectedly, an international referee was chosen to oversee the Boca Juniors vs. River Plate clash, and the record on the Núñez side looked promising for the visiting official. The appointment of Andrés Merlos to direct the Superclásico on date 7 of the Professional League Cup surprised both clubs; neither side had explicitly vetoed his name, yet it hadn’t been part of the expected plan. When looking at River Plate’s overall history with Merlos in charge, the numbers lean favorable for the team from Núñez.
From 2013 to today, the referee has managed twelve River Plate matches. In that span, the home side has secured six wins, four draws (one of which came after a penalty shootout), and two losses. In 2023, Merlos refereed River twice, delivering victories on both occasions: a 3-1 win over Estudiantes on the matchday 25, which helped solidify a title, and a 2-0 win against Independiente on matchday 13. These outcomes contributed to a narrative where the judge’s presence is associated with positive results for River Plate in recent high-stakes showdowns.
Throughout his assignments with River Plate, Merlos has issued his share of disciplinary decisions. He showed a red card to River player David Martínez in the 2022 Argentine Cup encounter with Barracas Central, and he did the same to Lucas Martínez Quarta in the 2018/19 Super League match against Aldosivi. In terms of penalties, he awarded one penalty for and two against River in his encounters—an uneven distribution that fans and analysts sometimes scrutinize when evaluating a referee’s influence on a game’s flow and outcome.
Overall, these matchups paint a picture of a referee who is comfortable handling a fixture notorious for its intensity and scrutiny. For clubs in the region, Merlos’s decisions are watched closely not only by the teams involved but also by fans and pundits who measure every call against a backdrop of fierce rivalry. In markets across North America, including Canada and the United States, such appointments are noted for their potential to shape the narrative around one of football’s most storied derbies. The dynamics of a Superclásico demand a balance of authority, precision, and composure, and Merlos’s track record provides a basis for cautious anticipation about how he might manage a match that alternates between tactical rigor and the emotional surge typical of these iconic clashes. As the scene unfolds, stakeholders on both sides will be listening for signals in moments of contact, contention, and celebration, all of which can tilt the momentum in a single decisive sequence. In this context, Merlos’s international experience adds a layer of legitimacy to a fixture that draws observers from far beyond the immediate stadium setting, reinforcing the idea that refereeing at the highest levels is a global conversation with local consequences. In assessing the broader landscape of Argentine football, analysts note that the referee’s history with River Plate is a factor in how fans perceive the game, even as clubs seek fair adjudication that stands up to the match’s fervent atmosphere. Overall, the jury remains attentive to how Merlos will interpret key moments—whether a decisive foul, a contentious offside, or a critical penalty—knowing that the outcome can influence perceptions of officiating across the league and beyond. In summary, Merlos’s recent assignments illustrate a pattern that fans and commentators might watch for: a referee who can impose order in a high-pressure setting while navigating the emotional currents that define the Superclásico. The ongoing dialogue around officiating in such fixtures continues to shape expectations for future derbies, both in Argentina and among international viewers who follow the drama closely. In terms of attribution, this summary reflects reporting and analysis compiled from Goal.