River Plate’s Next Steps as Demichelis Rebuilds the Lineup
For the upcoming clash with Verde, Demichelis must decide who will slot in for De la Cruz, sidelined for another two weeks. The team faces a period of internal reshuffling as it approaches a crucial stretch of fixtures, aiming to sustain momentum after recent strong showings.
The cycle in Martín Demichelis life as coach extended to nine official appearances across all competitions. His initial breakthrough came against Godoy Cruz, a 3-0 victory that reflected exactly what the coach wants from his side: disciplined pressing, dynamic buildup, and clinical finishing. The current objective is to validate that form on a challenging away assignment.
River Plate’s 2023 Schedule in Focus
This Sunday, the squad travels to meet a stubborn Sarmiento side in Junín at 9:30 p.m., a test intensified by Israel Damonte’s recently defeated Racing side. The matchup is a chance to prove consistency and identify the best tactical approach against a team that often makes life difficult for visiting clubs, according to Goal.
RIVER PLATE’S REGIME AND REGIMENT
As usual under Micho’s guidance, the squad carried out recovery and regeneration duties the day after a victory against Tomba, with a two-day break granted until midweek. When practice resumed, disappointing news emerged. De La Cruz, who had only returned to action late February after knee surgery following the World Cup, again found himself unavailable due to an infection in the operated area, meaning another extended layoff of at least ten days. Compounding the issue, Elías Gómez did not report for camp due to fever, Miguel Borja and Santiago Simon left early with overload from Monday’s drills, and Leandro Peña Biafore, promoted to train with the first team, suffered an ankle injury that caused concern at River Camp, according to Goal.
RIVER’S FORMATION OUTLOOK
The performance against Godoy Cruz stood out as one of the season’s best, with Aliendro partnering Enzo Pérez in midfield. That has sparked talk about possibly repeating the same setup, but De La Cruz’s absence forces the coach to rethink personnel and shape. On Sunday, Beltrán favored a lone striker in the last game and managed two goals; losing the Uruguayan opens the door for Borja’s return to the base XI. Another option is to lean toward a more natural replacement for De La Cruz by selecting Agustín Palavecino or Esequiel Barco as midfield anchors. There is also a chance Mammana could return in central defense in place of González Pírez, though the prevailing sentiment points to keeping the lineup largely intact with one strategic alteration.
The probable team sheet includes Franco Armani in goal; Milton Casco, Leandro González Pírez, Paulo Díaz, Enzo Díaz across the back; Rodrigo Aliendro and Enzo Pérez in midfield; Esequiel Barco or Agustín Palavecino or Miguel Borja as the attacking pivot behind Ignacio Fernández and José Paradela; with Lucas Beltrán leading the line, according to Goal’s reconstruction of the side for the forthcoming match.
ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS
The coaching staff continues to weigh several formations, with potential tweaks to how the center of the park is balanced and how the attack is supported by the midfield engine room. The decision will hinge on the health status of key players, the opponent’s setup, and the need to preserve squad depth across the congested schedule, according to Goal.
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Notes: information compiled from locker-room reports and post-match briefings as reported by Goal during the current campaign.