River Plate begins its defense of the top spot in Zone A with a challenging trip to Santa Fe, facing a rival eager to convert a double goal into results.
The Pro League Cup remains the only objective River has left in this term, and with a squad built to compete in three competitions, it is a prime candidate to lift the trophy, just as it did in the first half of the season. After a rocky start, the team appears to have found its best form and currently leads Zone A.
After the FIFA international window caused the loss of several regulars, River has a demanding stop in Santa Fe to meet Colon. The home side sits in fourth place in the group and also must manage a triangular tie to avoid relegation implications in the overall standings. The match is scheduled for Thursday, October 19 at 6:30 PM at the venue known as the Elephant Cemetery.
The river is called
The double qualifying round forces coach Martín Demichelis to cope without four players who have been called up by their national teams: Franco Armani for Argentina, Paulo Díaz for Chile, Nicolás De La Cruz for Uruguay, and Salomón Rondón for Venezuela. Among them, Armani is the only one who could potentially arrive in time for the Santa Fe trip, as he would likely not feature for the Albiceleste otherwise.
On the injury front, there are no new injuries beyond the already reported issues, with Jonathan Maidana still sidelined and Claudio Echeverri continuing to prep for the Under-17 World Cup.
THE PROBABLE RIVER FORMATION
With the absence of the three abroad players, the squad will see certain mandatory changes and some options for the coach. Ramiro Funes Mori could slot into defense, while Miguel Borja remains a primary attacking option. The decision for replacing a Charrúa midfielder will depend on Demichelis’ tactical approach, whether he strengthens the middle with Rodrigo Aliendro or leans toward attacking reinforcements such as Pablo Solari or Facundo Colidio.
Possible XI? Franco Armani, Andrés Herrera, Leandro González Pirez, Ramiro Funes Mori; Milton helmet; Rodrigo Aliendro, Enzo Pérez; Ignacio Fernández, Manuel Lanzini, Esequiel Barco; Miguel Borja.
Note: this setup reflects current squad availability and strategic flexibility as the coach plans for a demanding schedule across the league and Cup commitments.