The millionaire is this close to clinching the title. He cannot celebrate at the Nuevo Gasómetro, yet his drive to finish first remains strong.
Talleres’ victory over Sarmiento shifted the momentum in the championship race. It meant River did not depend on its own result on the 24th date to claim the crown and to travel around the stadium that hosts the finals. Still, with only four games left, River appears to hold a comfortable lead that could translate into the trophy sooner rather than later in the 2023 season.
River’s next challenge pits them against San Lorenzo, who had been the leading pursuer for most of the match. The draw against Racing, however, significantly dented San Lorenzo’s title hopes. The upcoming clash is scheduled for Saturday at 8:30 p.m. in Bajo Flores. Should River win, the gap would shrink to eight points with nine games remaining in the campaign.
RIVER PLAN AND KEY LINEUP CHOICES
Looking back at the recent match against Colón, where Colón controlled much of the action and the 2-0 scoreline looked modest for River, coach Martín Demichelis made a move that reintroduced a trusted performer in the final stretch. Pablo Solari is back in contention after serving a suspension for five yellow cards and can play a pivotal role again.
Injuries and fatigue have also shaped decisions. Emmanuel Mamman and Jonathan Maidana are unavailable, and Elijah Gomez is sidelined as a tactical option. David Martínez, meanwhile, was given minutes with the reserve squad to regain sharpness.
THE RIVER FORMATION
Following a setback against Barracas Central, River delivered a composed performance against Colón, deploying five midfielders and using Lucas Beltrán as the attacking focal point. With Pablo Solari’s return and the potential exit of Enzo Pérez, head coach Demichelis might revert to the 4-1-3-2 formation, a setup that has yielded positive results in past outings.
The defense remains steady, as the return of Gonzalo Pírez helped resolve one of the lingering defensive concerns from the campaign. The expected starting XI could line up as Franco Armani in goal; Milton Casco, Paulo Díaz, Leandro González Pírez, and Enzo Díaz in the back four; Rodrigo Aliendro anchoring the midfield; Nicolás De La Cruz, Nacho Fernández, and Esequiel Barco in the midfield trio; with Pablo Solari and Lucas Beltrán leading the attack.
ALTERNATIVE PLANS
There are still tactical options to confirm and adapt as the season unfolds.
Source: Goal