Eliminated from both the Copa Libertadores and the Copa Argentina, River Plate now faces only domestic duties in the current semester, aiming to win every competition it enters from the outset.
The Professional League Cup has become River’s sole focus for the second half of the year. The defending champion, already knocked out of the Libertadores and the domestic cup, is leveraging the squad it assembled with the objective of challenging for the international stage again and reclaiming the local title.
River’s journey begins against a club that recently exited the Libertadores as well: Argentinos Juniors, who will travel to the Diego Armando Maradona stadium in La Paternal on Sunday at 9:30 p.m.
RIVER HAS BEEN CALLED TO STEP UP
Following the tough exit in Porto Alegre on penalties to Inter, Martín Demichelis paused the team’s activities until Monday. When they reconvened at the River Camp, disappointment lingered as Enzo Pérez, Paulo Díaz, and Leandro González Pirez returned from Brazil with injuries: a back problem for the midfielder, a sprained knee for the Chilean, and metatarsal issues for the defender.
Those three players remain in doubt, and several others have talks ongoing about departures. Players such as Robert Rojas, Elías Gómez, Santiago Simón, José Paradela, and Nicolás De La Cruz are in negotiations for potential moves. There is even talk of Lucas Beltrán, who is already in Italy, being linked with a move to Fiorentina as a reinforcement.
It’s worth noting that a few members did not have a vacation break. Ramiro Funes Mori, Facundo Colidio, and Manuel Lanzini began a light mini-preseason to stay aligned with their teammates and maintain fitness levels.
THE RIVER’S SHAPE AND POSSIBILITIES
Among the unsettled players, those who have departed, and others who could leave, Demichelis faces a considerable puzzle at La Paternal. With no double or triple competition on the horizon, the coach is expected to place the entire focus on the LPF Cup and determine the best blend of players to sustain a title bid.
One of the most debated areas is the attacking midfield. The squad features a mix of familiar faces and rising talents. New options like Lanzini and Colidio could push for prominent roles, while established figures such as Boateng or Cross may need to adapt if transfers are completed. At the same time, veteran playmaker Nacho Fernández remains a key influence, and the late-season revelation could come from Pablo Solari. If no unexpected arrival materializes, Salomón Rondón and Miguel Borja are contenders for the central striker position, competing to fill the void left by Beltrán.
ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS
To confirm.
Source: Goal