River Plate, which won all three games it played, will visit Fortaleza in Brazil, led by Argentine Juan Pablo Vojvoda, with the possibility of obtaining a victory and qualifying early for the round of 16 of the Copa Libertadores.
River adds nine points, followed by Colo-Colo with six, Fortaleza with three and Alianza Lima closes with zero. If River triumphs, it qualifies for the round of 16, and if it draws it will be six units behind the Brazilians with the same amount in games but with a goal balance of +4 against -2.
Marcelo Gallardo’s team achieved a meritorious victory in their last presentation against Colo Colo, in Santiago. The victory left more than three points at stake, the team proved to be the winner in a hostile environment and overcame an opponent with a good game and game scheme similar to theirs.
In addition, River qualified for the quarterfinals of the League Cup, with a remarkable 7-0 win against Sarmiento in Junín, and can compete with Racing for first place in Zone B, hence River’s present appears as promising.
This good series drives away some “ghosts” that flew over Nuñez in recent weeks, with a team that had lost, with substitutes, to Talleres in Córdoba and that could barely draw against weak Atlético Tucumán at home, with the starters, looking unknown.
The great level of Enzo Fernández and Julián Alvarez’s return to goal, scoring three goals against Sarmiento, appear as the most salient points of a River that if it plays at its level does not seem to have any stumbling blocks in Argentine football, beyond the enormous rivalry with Boca (he beat him in Nuñez in the League Cup) and what Students or Racing can do, who are going through a good present.
In Nuñez, River beat Fortaleza in a misleading result since Gallardo’s men were much more and the coach decided to play with his maximum potential to ensure qualification and think about the quarterfinals of the League Cup, an instance in which it will be local, beyond the clash against Platense next Sunday.
After Platense, River will play the 11th of the current one in the quarterfinals, then the two matches of the group stage of the Libertadores will remain against Colo-Colo and Alianza Lima, on May 19 and 25 respectively, and the hypothetical semifinals and the final of the Professional League on neutral ground.
Gallardo summoned all the available players to travel to Brazil and only the injured will be missing: Jonatan Maidana, Juan Fernando Quintero, Felipe Peña and Fabián Londoño.
Fortaleza bets on being third to qualify for the South American Cup and has Vojvoda as DT, with whom he won three undefeated titles, two Ceará tournaments and the Northeast Cup, having qualified for the Libertadores for the first time.
Vojvoda has led Fortaleza in 76 games so far, with 39 wins, 16 draws and 21 losses, and the team includes Argentines Silvio Romero (former Lanús and Independiente) and Valentín Depietri (former Santamarina), both strikers.