The Millionaire had everything needed to beat Tatengue but lacked overwhelming power, settling instead for a tighter, more disciplined struggle than the early pace suggested.
A side that had claimed five consecutive wins while impressively denying goals should carry little blame and plenty of confidence. Critics who crave sharper turns can note a modest early burst of river superiority led by Martín Demichelis, who has steered River Plate toward a controlled, high-output style.
On another strong night at the Monumental, Franco Armani functioned as a luxury spectator to a degree, with the visiting goalkeeper offering a competitive mirror image and almost no real missteps. Yet the result stayed narrow; Unión never felt truly in danger, but the shadow of a late draw lingered near Núñez throughout the match.
Micho focused the approach on feeding the midfield, keeping a flexible lineup. Enzo Pérez remained the central hub, while Aliendro’s movements allowed him to press into the box or drop back between the center-backs when the full-backs pushed forward. At 37 years old, his energy helped balance the team. Paradela, De La Cruz, and Nacho Fernández stretched the width, creating a left-footed finish from a left-sided cross that found its target after a 26th-minute cross.
Chances abounded for both sides, with the midfield trio and Beltrán among the most active. Moyano faced several nervy moments as Unión’s defense held, yet River dominated possession, with Tatengue appearing to concede space as the game wore on. A decisive moment arrived when De La Cruz unexpectedly appeared in the starting XI, symbolizing River’s bold approach. Even as the clock ticked, River could not seal the win quickly enough, saving some energy for an upcoming trip to Bolivia.
The Millionaire continued to press with a rapid tempo that matched the advent of the Copa Libertadores phase. Demichelis, once seen with skepticism due to his brief stint in Germany and his role as the Gallardo successor, has grown convincing through a string of solid performances and consistent game management.
The Binance Professional League Tournament 2023 schedule and results framed the context for River Plate’s drive as they moved through each fixture, with highlights and tactical evolutions shaping the campaign as it unfolded on the field.
next in GOALthe party’s actions.
RIVER PLATE – UNION, MINUTE BY MINUTE
- The minute-by-minute account captures the ebb and flow between the Millionaire and the Tatengue.
- Zidane! A moment of alarming recklessness from Machuca as he clashed with Díaz and earned a sending-off as the referee showed red.
- RIVER TARGET! A swift winger delivers a precise cross from Paradela, with Nacho Fernández arriving to open the scoring at 1-0.
- Unión responds with a rare foray into the attacking half and briefly presses back into the match.
- River reinforces their shape with De La Cruz making a surprise impact in the starting XI.
- Good evening and welcome to another GOAL broadcast. River Plate faces Unión on date 9 of the Binance 2023 Tournament at the Monumental stadium.
THE TARGET EXAMPLE
HOW TO WATCH LIVE ON TV AND STREAMING
The match between the Millionaire and Unión is shown in Argentina on TNT Sports, available to those who subscribe to the football package through their cable providers.
TNT SPORTS
FORMATIONS
RIVER PLATE
Franco Armani; Milton Casco, Leandro Gonzalez Pirez, Paulo Diaz, Enzo Diaz; Rodrigo Aliendro, Enzo Perez, Ignacio Fernandez; Jose Paradela, Nicolas De La Cruz; Lucas Beltran. DT: Martin Demichelis.
UNION
Sebastian Moyano; Federico Vera, Franco Calderon, Claudio Corvalan, Lucas Esquivel; Imanol Machuca, Luciano Aued, Yeison Gordillo, Ezequiel Canete, Kevin Zenon; Jr. Marabel. DT: Gustavo Munua.