River Plate aims to seal a playoff berth in the Gigante de Arroyito, a venue where Rosario Central has not tasted defeat in more than a year.
The millonario stumbled in their first chance to clinch a spot in the quarterfinals of the Professional League Cup after a surprising loss to Huracán. That defeat snapped a 20-game winning streak at the Monumental and left River needing to rebound on the road against a club that thrives at home.
Martín Demichelis’s squad travels to face a team that has turned its home ground into a fortress. Rosario Central has not lost at the Estadio Gigante de Arroyito since August 22, 2022, a stretch spanning 27 meetings. The upcoming clash is set for Saturday, November 11, at 6:30 PM local time.
The river is called
After a weekend off granted by the coach, training resumed on Monday with no injuries or suspensions, so the coach has a full roster to choose from. Some players remain on the fringe and will compete for a spot on the bench, particularly in defense: David Martínez, Emanuel Mammana, Sebastián Boselli, and Jonatan Maidana are possibilities to be rotated in depending on fitness and tactical needs.
THE FORMATION OF RIVER
As has become routine, there are two position questions that Micho cannot easily resolve, though for different reasons. The attackers up front, Miguel Borja and Salomón Rondón, generally share the responsibility for leading the line, with the choice often dictated by form and training notes from the week. On the left flank, Milton Casco and Enzo Díaz have not been ideal options, so both alternate to keep the balance balanced and to exploit differing antipodes in the opponent’s setup.
The lineup features the return of Nicolás De La Cruz, who will replace Rodrigo Aliendro after the setback that kept him from starting against Huracán. The probable eleven would line up as Franco Armani in goal; Santiago Simón, Paulo Díaz, Leandro González Pírez, and Milton Casco or Enzo Díaz across the back; Enzo Pérez, Nacho Fernández, De La Cruz, Manuel Lanzini, Esequiel Barco; and Borja or Rondón leading the attack. The tactical shape and personnel emphasize a mixture of solidity in defense and pace in transition, with the emphasis on maintaining balance in midfield and exploiting central spaces when opportunities arise.
Source: Goal