The Salta Matchup and the International Break Details
The team led by Mauricio Pellegrino will use the upcoming break to prepare for a high-profile friendly against River Plate. The venue will be Padre Martearena in Salta, where both squads aim to maintain match sharpness during the pause in the domestic calendar. This friendly serves as a bridge between the National Championship phase and the restart, giving Universidad de Chile a platform to test their form against a formidable opponent while River Plate looks to fine-tune tactics ahead of the resumption of league play.
During the preparation, Pellegrino will contend with a few notable absences. Darío Osorio is unavailable following a call-up to the Chile national team under Eduardo Berizzo, which takes him away from club duties for the period. José Castro will also miss the game due to injuries sustained in the Superclásico 193 against Colo Colo, specifically a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee and a meniscal issue. Such injuries bite into the squad’s depth, forcing adjustments in the lineup and strategy for this important tune-up match.
Emmanuel Ojeda returns to the fold after sitting out the previous fixture with a knee sprain, and Cristóbal Campos will be part of the squad as the performance caravan travels. The goalkeeper previously had to step off early in the match against León de Atacama due to back pain, necessitating Cristopher Toselli to enter the field and debut in a blue shirt when the action resumed. The medical staff will monitor all returning players closely to ensure they are ready for the challenges ahead.
How does Universidad de Chile enter the River game?
The student side comes into the encounter after a goalless draw with a team positioned at the bottom of the table in the Elías Figueroa affair. The result capped a campaign where Universidad de Chile flirted with decisive moments at the Monumental and briefly watched the possibility of earning a win slip away in Santa Laura against Uniat La Calera. Despite that, they sit in fourth place in the domestic standings with 15 points, just three behind leaders Huachipato and Universidad Católica, signaling a competitive pulse as the league resumes.
The history between the two clubs
Historically, River Plate holds a clear edge in meetings with Universidad de Chile, having claimed nine victories in 16 encounters, including three friendlies and six official clashes. The earliest wins occurred in 1964, 1965, and 1996, all recorded in friendly settings. The most recent clash dates back to 2018 when the current leaders of their respective leagues triumphed 3-0, with goals from Nicolás de la Cruz and a double from Rafael Santos Borré in a regional competition context. These memories frame the looming matchup as both sides look to demonstrate form and aspiration ahead of more meaningful fixtures.
Remarkably, there was a logistical obstacle for the attendance of Universidad de Chile supporters in Salta as local authorities restricted the presence of visiting fans for the duel against River Plate. The restriction was communicated in an official letter from Federico Abud, secretary of sports affairs in Salta, addressed to the event organizer. This context underscores the broader event environment that teams must navigate as they prepare to resume league action and continue their campaign with competitive spirit.
Mauricio Pellegrino has lined up a squad that includes Cristián Toselli in goal, supported by a defensive setup featuring Yonathan Andía, Matías Zaldivía, Luis Casanova, and Marcelo Morales. In midfield, Nery Domínguez, Federico Mateos, Israel Poblete, Renato Huerta will act as the engine room, with Nicolás Guerra and Leandro Fernández providing attacking impetus. The tactical blueprint and personnel choices reflect a balance between resilience at the back and creative output in the final third as the team gears up for the season restart and seeks to sustain momentum into the subsequent fixtures.
River Plate remains in a phase of confirmation as the squad continues to build cohesion ahead of competitive fixtures. The upcoming friendly is viewed as a step in that ongoing process, offering both teams a chance to calibrate systems, test fitness levels, and build confidence for the challenges that lie ahead in the domestic championship and international competitions.
Source: Goal