River hosts The Wolf at San Lorenzo in a match between two teams more accustomed to playing in the first division. Kickoff is at 4:15pm EST. 22,000 River supporters will be on hand at San Lorenzo’s “Ashtray”.
As was anticipated during the week, Matias Almeyda will be making at least three changes to the starting lineup. Luciano Vella and Alexis Ferrero will come in to play in the back four and Argentina U-20 member Ezequiel Cirigliano will see his first action of the season in the midfield. The projected lineup should see a return to a traditional 4-4-2: Leandro Chichizola; Luciano Vella, Alexis Ferrero, Jonatan Maidana, Juan Manuel Díaz; Carlos Sánchez, Ezequiel Cirigliano, Martín Aguirre and Lucas Ocampos; Alejandro Domínguez and Fernando Cavenaghi… maybe.
Cavenaghi has been bothered by a pulled leg muscle all week and his inclusion will be a game time decision. The alternative would probably be Rogelio Funes Mori. Cavenaghi has three career goals against Gimnasia.
River have suffered three straight draws but enter the match in second place overall, 1 point behind the other Gimnasia (Jujuy).
Gimnasia de La Plata find themselves in 12th place entering the game. They are coming off a 1-0 defeat at Defensa y Justicia and a 1-1 tie against Desamparados. Their top scorer this season is Gonzalo Choy (2 goals) though he will miss the game with an injury.
A curious statistic to keep in mind: River and Gimnasia have tied their last 6 games, stretching all the way back to the Apertura 2008. The prior season, Clausura 2008, was the most recent River victory against Gimnasia. That match ended 4-2 with goals from Abelairas (2), Ortega and Buonanotte. That season was also the last time River won the Argentine First Division title.
Gimnasia had been a member of the first division for 26 consecutive years. They lost the Promoción playoff to San Martín de San Juan. It was the third year in a row that Gimnasia faced a second division opponent in a playoff to avoid relegation.
The Outlook: As was seen two weeks ago, the larger dimensions of San Lorenzo’s pitch will not be kind on slow players. With Agustin Alayes out and Ferrero in, River’s defense should at least be quicker than it was the past few games. Four at the back, four in the middle, River will try to use the width of the field to its advantage. Keep an eye on Cirigliano in the midfield, the youngster is trying to win the starting role from Nicolas Domingo who has not played well this season. If Cavenaghi is healthy and Dominguez is active in attack, River will be favored to take the three points and possibly vault themselves back to the top of the table.
