River Plate won a crucial match against Barcelona in Ecuador and is moving closer to the round of 16 in the Copa Libertadores.
River Plate can divide this first half of the year in two. In the first stretch, they were a predictable team with a secure defense. They had few goals, many draws, and were unremarkable. In recent weeks, they've transformed. They're a different team. They win, attack with fury, and show off their defense. They're a dangerous team. When they advance and… when they retreat.
Guayaquil saw that film: they beat Barcelona 3-2 and are the leaders of Group B of the Copa Libertadores. And they're a contender. They are also a contender at the local level. Driussi (five goals in five matches), Colidio, and Mastantuono represent a magical triangle. They have good partnerships; the glass is clearly half full. But beware: they're a weak team at the back, easy to break down. Just by blowing on it.
The millionaire team went from existential doubts to superlative confidence. Whatever they try, they succeed. The opening goal came almost without meaning to: Paulo Díaz, Martínez Quarta, a lob, Driussi brings the ball down and finishes with class, crossing, unstoppable.
The millionaires' team led from the seventh minute, thanks to the renewed lucidity of Nacho Fernández, one of Madrid's "forgotten" heroes. In an open development, with defensive scrutiny, River Plate could have grabbed a second goal, and Barcelona could have equalized.
The Ecuadorian team got it done with a devastating header from Octavio Rivero , a 1.84m giant. Soon after, another header, this time from Colidio, hit the crossbar, in a play more reminiscent of a modern Champions League match than the old, rustic, combative Libertadores duels. It was a free-for-all , with limited marking and stinging attacks.
The blond striker quickly got his revenge: another superb goal, controlled by a cross and finished. Goalkeeper José Contreras , who had performed impressively in the 0-0 draw at Núñez (including a penalty saved by Driussi), was already injured: soon after, he made way for Ignacio de Arruabarrena, a Uruguayan like the scorer.
The first part of the second half was a feast. First, Borja, who had come on for Driussi, fought for a ball on the left flank, threw himself into the air, crossed, and Mastantuono scored the third. In the following play, a similar one, but on the right side of the home side's attack, Martínez Quarta converted the goal.
The final 20 minutes, indecipherable and with the tone that anything could happen, were held by River with five defenders, with Pezzella coming on for Pérez. Montiel, Martínez Quarta, Pezzella, Díaz, and Acuña provided the resistance against a physical opponent who launched crosses and long balls.
The multimillion-dollar reconstruction was backed by acceptable performances, very good results, and, above all, the drive of convictions . The string of successes suddenly transformed what had been an uneven path, between draws and existential confusion. Until one afternoon, he showed up at the Bosque.
A 3-0 win over Gimnasia, the impossible 2-2 draw with Independiente del Valle (at altitude in Quito, after trailing 2-0 and on the verge of collapse), the 2-1 derby, sealed by a Franco Mastantuono free kick, and the 4-1 thrashing of Guillermo Barros Schelotto's Vélez in the pouring rain. A shot in the arm.
Millionaires' optimism shouldn't confuse him. In every game, at a certain stage, he had a terrible time. There are revealing statistics: Gimnasia, Independiente del Valle, and Vélez had two shots on the posts. And Armani stifled Boca's goal twice in a row at the close of the Superclásico. The back line continues to raise questions, beyond the names. It happened again in Guayaquil: he had many doubts at the back.
River's new era, full of confidence, is divided between the Copa Libertadores (the important part), the Apertura tournament (the urgent part), and the Club World Cup (the hope). The international tournament finds them in a comfortable, expectant position, confident that they have their own destiny, and facing tough opponents, albeit of lesser standing than the Argentine giant.
In the Professional League, Barracas Central will be their next opponent, in the round of 16. One-on-one matches aren't usually River's strong suit, despite Gallardo's influence and the mystique of the Monumental. A bad night (not just against the disciplined team coached by Gallego Insua ) could see them eliminated or send them to penalties, a stigma that persists.
The Club World Cup is a source of pride. Participation, first and foremost. The rivals are Inter, the potential Champions League champion , Monterrey, coached by Martín Demichelis, and a club from Japan. Reaching the next round isn't an impossible task, as it stands.
Meanwhile, he wins, wins, and wins. He scores and struggles at the back, a different version of the first few weeks of 2025.
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