Almost three decades ago, the Millionaire earned a championship without taking the field, thanks to the escort’s decisive tie. If Talleres fails to close the gap, history might echo that moment once more.
During the 1990s, River Plate dominated the era’s shorter domestic contests, collecting seven local titles and assembling a gallery of unforgettable squads and standout players. Among those triumphs, one particular run stands out: a campaign where the club clinched the championship without conceding a single defeat across 19 matches, marking a rare, flawless title run.
That season began in September, in the wake of the United States World Cup. Américo Gallego sat on the bench for River Plate, stepping in after Daniel Passarella left for duties with the Argentina national team. Although Tolo was expected to accompany him, he managed the squad during that term, and the title chase unfolded in a way that mirrored recent league dynamics where results elsewhere could alter the fate of the championship, and where luck alongside performance mattered just as much as strategy.
On the 18th, a classic Superclásico etched itself into memory at Núñez. December 11 brought a memorable performance in La Bombonera, where River Plate defeated Boca Juniors 3-0. Enzo Francescoli, Ariel Ortega, and Marcelo Gallardo found the net, with the first and third goals coming from penalties, delivering a decisive win at a time when two points were awarded for a victory. In the weeks surrounding that period, San Lorenzo and Lanús squared off to a 2-2 draw, leaving San Lorenzo on 26 points with a game in hand that kept a faint mathematical chance alive, contingent on tiebreakers like goal difference.
The rescheduled match between Talleres and Newell’s Old Boys, originally set for the 10th, took place on Thursday, December 15, amid a tense finish. Newell’s climbed to a 2-0 victory, providing River Plate with a moment of relief and a clear path to contest the final date against Vélez Sarsfield, who had just claimed the Intercontinental Cup against Milan and entered the championship race with renewed vigor.
As history hinted at a possible return to old patterns, the scene shifted to the present. Two potential turning points loomed: this Monday, Talleres hosted Unión with the aim of shaving 10 points off the leaders, led by Martín Demichelis. A loss would end their title hopes, automatically boosting River Plate to the crown. A victory for Talleres, however, would set up a late-season battle, demanding that they avoid defeat on the upcoming Friday when they travel to Huracán, just a day before River Plate’s own clash with Estudiantes. In that scenario, a win would place River on the path to becoming champions with matches in hand, a rare terrain in the modern league.
The unfolding storyline one more time centers on whether a single result can tilt a long campaign toward triumph. It’s a reminder that in Argentine football, the race for the title often hinges on a handful of pivotal games, where timing, momentum, and strategic decisions align to create moments that linger in the memory of fans long after the final whistle. The current teams study those bygone chapters as they navigate this season’s pressure and pressure-filled schedule, hoping to write a victorious chapter of their own while the league title continues to unfold under the bright lights of the country’s largest stadiums. — Goal