The Copa Argentina is under way and River had a victorious, if unspectactular, debut. The tournament, which includes all the clubs in the seven tiers of Argentine football, is the equivalent of the English FA Cup or Spanish Copa del Rey. A single game elimination tournament that will culminate on the 25th of May, the birthday of the Argentine Republic.

The 25th of May also happens to be the anniversary of the founding of River Plate, potentially setting up a story book ending to a season in the second division that many could never have imagined. To get there though, River will have to win 6 games. Step one would pit them against a familiar foe in Defensores de Belgrano. Not only familiar because of their star player, the legendary Ariel Ortega, but also because they are a neighbor club located just blocks from River Plate’s Estadio Monumental.

The Copa Argentina match would be played 550 miles west in San Juan, but as usual when River travels out of Buenos Aires, they were greeted by a multitude of local River fans who instantly turned the fixture into another home away from home game for the Millonarios.

Matias Almeyda decided to send out what could be called a B team, including Fernando Cavenaghi, Alejandro Dominguez and Ezequiel Cirigliano as the only regular starters. German Pezzella, the Argentine U-21 player, finally got to see some playing time in defense and Venezuelan international Cesar Gonzalez got the first start of his River career. In goal, Almeyda went with the player he considered to be the starting keeper at the beginning of the season, Daniel Vega.

As for the game, it was River’s from start to finish as Defe never posed a real threat to Vega’s goal. The defense and midfield were solid and Defensores simply didn’t have the horses to compete. River opened the score on a play conjured up between Cavenaghi and Dominguez. A well timed back heel pass from Cavenaghi put the ball in behind the defenders and onto Dominguez’s run. The light touch over the charging keeper saw the ball find the empty net for a goal that surely will make the season highlight reel.

After that, River generated several more scoring chances but again failed to convert. An unfortunate recurring theme this season where River control the game but are incapable of creating the final knockout punch. The second half would see even less chances with both teams resigned to the 1-0 final score.

Passing the first hurdle, Defensores de Belgrano, River have now drawn another third tier team, Sportivo Belgrano. As has been mentioned on La Pagina Millonaria, it is like a bad reminder having to play two teams called Belgrano with the nightmare of relegation at the hands of another Belgrano still fresh in our minds. Fans and players alike know that we can begin to exorcise the demons of that fateful June day by lifting a cup, the Copa Argentina, on the 111th anniversary of River Plate.

If there is one thing to take away from this season it will be the tremendous support River has received in every port of call, nationwide. Corrientes was no exception with a sold out stadium anxious to see El Millonario up close and in person. To an extent, this team has fed off that enthusiasm and River made it nearly to the halfway point of the season with an unbeaten record on the road.

The stage was set and River didn’t waste time getting down to work. For almost the entire game, River outplayed their hosts but failed to find the back of the net. The second half saw River come close to scoring on a number of occasions but as the game died off, a single point seemed in to be in the cards for this trip up north.

Then Leandro Chichizola happened. The goalie, who by all accounts has been solid this season, had another momentary slip up. More often than not, when it comes to the keeper, all it takes is one slip up and you find yourself behind on the scoreboard. Chichizola paid the price again, this time on a corner in the first minute of injury time. He failed to clear the cross, leaving the ball loose in the area begging to be tapped in. Up to that point, Boca Unidos had very little to contribute to the game highlights, yet in a split second they managed to steal all three points.

Removing the last minutes of the game from the analysis, it is fair to say River played well. Carlos Sanchez returned to form, Fernando Cavenaghi got himself in scoring position several times, and Alejandro Dominguez continues to show his superior level of skill. Ezequiel Cirigliano continues to own the midfield and Lucas Ocampos was active in attack.

Yet there are still nagging issues with this team. The lack of a killer attack coupled with a shaky defense have turned the most popular team in the country into an inconsistent side that is beginning to hear rumblings of discontent from the millions of supporters.

Not all is lost though with River still in second place, just two points behind Instituto. Next River plays in the newly reborn Copa Argentina, against Ariel Ortega and Defensores de Belgrano of the third division. The game will take place in San Juan and, as expected, will be played in front of a sold out crowd. Then River closes out 2011 hosting Patronato on Sunday before the holiday break. For the sake of enjoying the holidays, let’s hope River end the year on a two game winning streak.

Over 40,000 River fans were on hand to see Matias Almeyda’s team try to stay atop the B Nacional table and keep momentum going from the victory in Puerto Madryn. Instead the home fans were treated to another slow start and another match where River are forced to come from behind. Also of note was the return of Paulo Ferrari, this time wearing a Central jersey, who was greeted with a mix of cheers and jeers.

Early alarm bells rang as Rosario Central came close to scoring several times. Thankfully for River, the visitors have their own issues and the game would see the first half end 0-0. The problems in defense continue for River, with Alexis Ferrero struggling to contain his man and Luciano Abecasis having his worst game as a starter. Almeyda opted for the Argentine U-21 member Leandro Gonzalez Pirez in place of the injured Jonatan Maidana in the center, but while the youngster was arguably the most solid defender, the entire back line was shaky.

Add to that a couple of poor decisions by keeper Leandro Chichizola and it was only a matter of time before River were staring at a 0-1 scoreboard. The second half was barely 3 minutes old when a counter put Chichizola to the test. On the first shot though, Chichizola managed to send a rebound back towards the middle of the box where two Central players waited. A deft touch into space let Gonzalo Castillejos skillfully place a shot past Chichizola for the lead.

The wheels started turning for River as Alejandro Dominguez and Fernando Cavenaghi started to find each other in attack. First, a ball found Cavenaghi darting into the area but the quick Central keeper Jorge Broun, who began to become a key protagonist, would deny the goal.

River kept pressing and eventually found their reward. Again it was el Chori Dominguez setting up Cavenaghi with a pass into the Central area. As the keeper came out to challenge, Cavegol this time chose to go under and the low shot would roll right into the empty net. The goal set off the home crowd who thought it was destined to see River come from behind to snatch the three points.

For the rest of the game it looked like they would get their prize, but in the end Broun did enough to keep the score level. On the last play of the game, a long ball towards the Central area saw substitute Andres Rios beat Broun to the ball just outside the Central area but his chipped shot would agonizingly hit the post before being cleared by the defender.

With the draw River stays in a tie for first place with Instituto who have a game in hand. Almeyda again will have to address the team’s inconsistent play as River face a trip north to face Boca Unidos.

River needed a win. The historic circumstances of River’s first match in Puerto Madryn coupled with two losses in three games had set expectations (rightfully) high. Matias Almeyda made two changes with regard to the last starting eleven, including Martin Aguirre and Alexis Ferrero in place of Andres Rios and Adalberto Roman. The switch worked, especially for Aguirre who had added another solid game to this season’s resume.

It took a while for River to begin to unravel the home team’s defense. The game was back and forth until the 34th minute when Dominguez crossed in a free kick from the corner and Lucas Ocampos headed the ball in. From that point on Guillermo Brown were rattled and unable to regain rhythm.

Any chance for a comeback evaporated just seconds into the second half. About 20 seconds after play resumed, Dominguez slotted home a loose ball in the box to give River the 2-0 lead. With 45 minutes left, River had all but sealed the 3 points.

With a solid pair in the midfield of Aguirre, River controlled the play and would eventually set up two goals for Cavenaghi in the 11thand 33rd minutes. Player by player, all of Almeyda’s men responded to the task of returning to Buenos Aires with three points. A last minute penalty for Guillermo Brown would be a minor negative mark on the game that saw River reach Instituto at the top of the table and Cavenaghi become the tournament’s top scorer with 12 goals.

River now awaits Instituto’s result (at Almirante Brown) to see if they stay in first or drop back to second. Next is a clash at the Monumental against another old foe, Rosario Central who are in third place.

The afternoon was full of anxious expectation as River played only their second home game this season at the Monumental after serving a 5 game home stadium ban. The weather cooperated, but the opposition did not.

Almeyda’s team fell behind early again on a goal in the 13th minute. It took Atletico two passes to go nearly the entire length of the pitch, springing Luis Rodriguez in behind the River defense as a near helpless Leandro Chichizola couldn’t close down fast enough. The striker didn’t miss the far corner and River found themselves behind early, yet again.

Just 9 minutes later though Atletico would double their lead. Roman lazily tried to gather a back pass but instead of connecting, the ball slipped under his foot and into the open space of Chichizola’s area. The Atletico player just had to collect and slot the ball past the keeper to complete the gifted goal. The reproach from the stands was immediate and Roman would end up being substituted at half time.

It is worth mentioning that this was Roman’s first appearance since the infamous hand ball in the box that gave Belgrano a penalty in the first leg of the relegation playoff. The Paraguayan had been virtually exiled from the first team ever since, but slowly Almeyda started hinting that he would indeed include Roman. His chance came as Ramiro Funes Mori was injured last week, but unfortunately for Roman, it could not have gone any worse. Now the question will be if there will be a third chance.

With Alexis Ferrero on and a two goal deficit, River tried to answer but was ineffective in attack and soft in the midfield. Dominguez and Cavenaghi were well marked while Ocampos and Cirigliano failed to control the center of the field. At times it was painful to watch as River failed to conjure up anything that could come close bothering the Atletico keeper. In the end, there would be no moral victories to be had in what can easily be considered the worst game of the season for River. If anything, the concern will be the knock Cirigliano picked up towards the end of the match.

So a second loss in three games leaves River awaiting the result of the Instituto-Boca Unidos match to know how far behind the league leaders they have fallen. Next is a long journey south to Puerto Madryn to face Guillermo Brown. The main question continues to be when River will finally find some regularity and play on the level expected by the fans and coaching staff.

Coming off their first loss of the season, River arrived in Jujuy with the obligation to quickly put behind the disastrous game against Aldosivi. Matias Almeyda decided to change nearly half the starting 11 to try and get a better effort from his players. The decision paid off as River were clearly superior to their hosts in nearly every facet of the game.

Notable returns to the starting 11 were the two youngsters Ezequiel Cirigliano, fresh off his participation with the U-20 national team, and Luciano Abecasis who was returning from an injury. Both made immediate impact, showing calm on the ball and intelligence to distribute. The effect was obvious as River looked composed and organized throughout the game, practically giving keeper Leandro Chichizola the afternoon off.

Cavenaghi started things off when referee Pablo Lunati gifted River a penalty that didn’t exist. Alejandro Dominguez, who also had a good game, was brought down by the keeper in the box, though replays showed the keeper got to the ball first. Cavenaghi stepped up and calmly sent the keeper the wrong way to open the score from the penalty spot.

Minutes into the second half, Cavenaghi would find a little space outside the box and swerve the ball over the keeper to the far corner. A majestic finish that all but sentenced the game with still almost 40 minutes left to play. The hat trick would come on what looked like a certain goal for Carlos Sanchez. Instead Sanchez found Cavenaghi nearly on the goal line where the striker back heeled the ball into the net. Another touch of class from El Torito.

With the game out of reach, Gimnasia would pull one back before Cavenaghi would finish his spectacular night off with a fourth goal. The break found Cavenaghi inexplicably alone in the area. A quick dummy sent the keeper to the ground setting up an easy finish over his outstretched hands. 4-1 and the game ball would be heading home with Fernando Cavenaghi who racked up his second hat trick of the season.

River played well in nearly every sector of the field. Ramiro Funes Mori, who made his debut in the center of defense, had an acceptable game and was vocal in organizing the back four. The youth brigade led by Cirigliano, Ocampos and Abecasis, set the table for the veterans, Cavenaghi and Dominguez. Hopefully this is the River we will see more of as the season continues.

Next is the anticipated return to the Estadio Monumental, after the 5 game home ban, to host Tucuman.

Matias Almeyda will repeat the same starting lineup that has won two games in a row. The starters will be: Leandro Chichizola; Luciano Vella, Alexis Ferrero, Jonatan Maidana, Carlos Arano; Carlos Sánchez, Ezequiel Cirigliano, Martín Aguirre, Lucas Ocampos; Andrés Ríos and Fernando Cavenaghi.

River holds a one point lead over Instituto at the top of the B Nacional table. Two wins in a row have restored River’s confidence ahead of probably the most important game of the season so far.

Chori Dominguez did not make the trip as he struggles to recover from illness, and Alexis Ferrero will play despite battling a fever all week. Cesar Gonzalez was one of the key figures in Venezuela’s historic win over Argentina in World Cup qualifying this past Tuesday. Fans have responded and want to see El Maestrico get some playing time for River, but Almeyda left him behind in Buenos Aires.

The last time River played Instituto was in 2006 with a win for the Millonarios. In fact, River have won the last five time these two have met going back to 1999.

Instituto is widely considered the third biggest team in Cordoba behind Talleres and Belgrano, though their biggest rivals are Racing de Cordoba. They were founded by railway workers back in 1918 and won the second division title twice. Most notable among players who have played for La Gloria is Mario Kempes who won the World Cup with Argentina in 1978 and also won a national title with River. Kempes, who currently works for ESPN Deportes, admitted this week that his heart will be divided in two as he watches the game being played at a stadium named in his honor.

The Cordobeses have only lost one game (at Rosario Central) and have proven to have a solid defense, giving up only 6 goals in 10 games. They have won their last three in a row and their top goal scorer is Paulo Dybala (7).

The Outlook: River will have to use the atmosphere of the 58,000 on hand to its advantage. The biggest question will continue to be whether Ferrero, Maidana, Arano and Vella can keep up with the opposing forwards . Will Ferrero’s time out this week due to illness cause River problems? Surely it will be an active afternoon for Chichizola. Without Chori Dominguez, much of the midfield work will fall on the shoulders of Aguirre and Sanchez. Up front, Rios must make an impact, even if it only serves to free up Cavenaghi. Otherwise it could be long afternoon for Cavegol who will be trying to get back on the score sheet. Individual brilliance may not be enough today against a good Instituto team. That said, there is no reason to doubt Almeyda’s team is capable of coming home with three points.

In a Mario Alberto Kempes stadium bursting at the seams with spectators, River and Instituto battled for first place of the B Nacional. The match would be up and down the field at times, with both teams seemingly on the verge of breaking the deadlock. Both defenses were up to the task today, and a point each was not the worst result for either team.

For River the brightest spots were Ezequiel Cirigliano and Carlos Sanchez. Both players made the midfield theirs, in effect isolating Instituto’s best weapon, youngster Paulo Dybala. On the other end of the spectrum, Fernando Cavenaghi probably would agree this was one of his weakest games of the season as he continually found himself struggling to keep possession of the ball and find space in attack. His best chance came on a shot across the front of the goal that Cavenaghi managed to get a knee to only to see the ball fire off the crossbar. With minutes to go in the first half, Cavenaghi found space just outside the box but his shot would drift wide and high.

The post would deny River in the second half as well. Andres Rios would see his shot go off the near post and later Keko Villalva caught the defense off guard but his shot would roll just wide of the far post. Late in the game Cavenaghi would pick up a yellow card for trying to punch the ball into the goal. This afternoon was not Fernando’s best and frustration was beginning to show. Shortly after, Almeyda would bring him off for Villalva.

Instituto also hit the woodwork in the second half, but for the most part they failed to threaten Chichizola’s goal. River’s defense started the game on shaky ground but resolved much better as the game wore on. With 20 minutes left the Cordobeses would be left with ten men when Facundo Erpen received his second yellow card.

With the man advantage, River pressed forward and played the last 10 minutes with everyone but the keeper in Instituto’s half. A non-call on Ocampos in the box denied River a dubious penalty, and Instuto bravely held on for the scoreless draw.

Splitting points in Cordoba is OK for River who will remain at the top of the table. A draw away from home against one of the top teams in the division is not an awful result, even if River came very close to getting the win. River will have a week off due to the Presidential elections in Argentina, and will return to action hosting Aldosivi (for their last home game at San Lorenzo) on the 29th. Almeyda will not be able to count on Ezequiel Cirigliano who was called up to the U-20 national team participating at the Panamerican Games in Mexico, but most likely will have Alejandro Dominguez back in the starting lineup.

Thousands of River fans made the trip to the Tomas Duco to see River face another former First Division foe in Huracan. The game got off to a bad start for El Millonario though when Gaston Machin put “El Globo” ahead 1-0 in the 7th minute. Alexis Ferrero gave up a silly ball just outside the River box and though Leandro Chichizola made a spectacular save on the first shot, he was helpless on Machin’s follow up.

The goal put River on its back foot for a brief period, but Almeyda’s team pushed forward and 7 minutes later found their reward. River regained its composure when Aguirre rose up to powerfully head home a cross off a corner kick. 1-1 and Almeyda implored his troops to press Huracan further up the field.

The aggressive pressing worked and five minutes later Aguirre would score what is probably the best goal of the season so far. Carlos Sanchez laid the ball off to Luciano Vella who dribbled towards the right corner before crossing a ball near the pentaly spot. The cross was behind Aguirre who from a near sitting position, with his back facing the goal, managed to volley the ball over his shoulder and past the keeper’s far post. A stunning goal that Aguirre told La Página Millonaria was “the best goal of his career”, while admitting he’s still not sure how he managed to make it happen. The midfielder now has four goals for the season.

The rhythm of the game in the second half was much slower with more fouls than scoring chances. Huracan threatened Chichizola’s goal one last time as the final whistle approached but Vella would make an amazing clearance on the keeper’s doorstep to save the day. It may have not been a sparkling one, but River got a deserved win as 2-1 would be the final score.

Next is possibly the biggest test of the season with a match against Instituto, in Cordoba, that will pit the table’s top two teams. Almeyda is expected to have Alejandro Dominguez back, but the concern at the start of the week will be Vella’s health as the defender appeared to pull a muscle on the last play of the game.

Matias Almeyda will field the same starting 11 that played against Atlanta: Leandro Chichizola; Luciano Vella, Alexis Ferrero, Jonatan Maidana, Carlos Arano; Carlos Sánchez, Ezequiel Cirigliano, Martín Aguirre, Lucas Ocampos; Andrés Ríos and Fernando Cavenaghi.

Alejandro Dominguez was left off the roster for the second straight game. El Chori was left out of the game Wednesday due to fever. He is still recovering from the cold. The forward also admitted he has been suffering from panic attacks, but insists they have not affected him when he is playing. This admission came as rumors of why he was left out of the team mounted. The team and manager have shown full support for El Chori and expect him to be fit for the next game.

Around 15,000 River fans are expected to attend the mach at the Tomas Duco. A dispute over pricing of tickets led to some friction between the two clubs. Relations between River and Huracan have recently begun to cool due to the Millonarios deciding not to play out their home stadium ban at Huracan.

Huracan is one of the three teams that got relegated along with River. They have not had a good campaign so far currently sitting 9th in the table. El Globo are coming off two straight wins though against Ferro and Deportivo Merlo.

River has tied twice and won twice in the last four meetings between these clubs. The Clausura 2009 saw Huracan’s last victory over River.

The Outlook: As was shown on Wednesday, the key to winning today will lie in the midfield. The more they prevent Huracan from having the ball, the better chances River has of setting up Cavenaghi and Rios with scoring opportunities. Cirigliano and Aguirre must dominate the midfield. A win should be attainable as Huracan are not the best defensive team they will have faced.

Three new faces will crack the starting 11 tomorrow, all three are obligated changes due to injuries. Juan Manuel Diaz, Alejandro Dominguez and Rogelio Funes Mori are all out. The projected starting 11 will be: Leandro Chichizola; Luciano Vella, Alexis Ferrero, Jonatan Maidana, Carlos Arano; Carlos Sánchez, Ezequiel Cirigliano, Martín Aguirre, Lucas Ocampos; Andrés Ríos and Fernando Cavenaghi. Andrés Ríos will be making his first start in almost two years.

The bench will be comprised of Daniel Vega; Luciano Abecasis, Adalberto Román, Ramiro Funes Mori; Facundo Affranchino, Nico Domingo, Cristian Ledesma; Mauro Díaz; Gustavo Bou, Daniel Villalva and Fabián Bordagaray.

The last time River played Atlanta in an official game was back in 1984. That game finished 1-1 with the River goal scored by Enzo Francescoli.

Atlanta is another of the historic teams in Argentine football that currently play in the second division. Legend has it that the club was named after Atlanta, GA because on the day of its founding an earthquake shook the American city. Their nickname is The Bohemians due to being forced to relocate several times during their early years.

The Bohemians are playing their first season back in the B Nacional after spending 11 years in the Primera B Metropolitana. The past three decades have not been kind to the team from Villa Crespo, hitting rock bottom in 2002 when they were in danger of being relegated to the Primera C. Hard to believe this is a club that has spent a total of 45 seasons in the Argentine Primera Division over the years.

In 2004 Atlanta celebrated their centennial season. As part of the celebrations that season, Atlanta played River Plate in an exhibition game. The Millonarios spoiled the festivities winning 3-0.

Coming into the game Wednesday, Atlanta are in 16th place, 8 points behind River who will need to win to stay in first place. Atlanta won their game this past Saturday at Gimnasia La Plata 1-2. Their top scorer is Emiliano Ferragut with two goals.

The Outlook: River will play their first game without El Chori Dominguez in the midfield. Will this mean the team will be faster? Or will it mean the team will lack a creative spark? The spotlight will follow Andres Rios as well, given that he has been handed another chance to try and win the starting role while Funes Mori is out. If Aguirre is able to play at the level he showed early on in the season, then it could be good news for the forwards. With Cirigliano eating up the midfield it should allow Sanchez and Aguirre to move forward and connect with Cavenaghi and Rios. On paper River should have no problem winning this game, but as we’ve seen so far this year, River will have to overcome River for this become reality.

The game all River fans were waiting for finally came as El Mas Grande lived up to its moniker and thrashed lowly Atlanta. The score line was an absolutely accurate representation of the difference between these two teams today, as Atlanta found themselves outmatched in every facet of the game.

River had the game in control from the start. Martin Aguirre opened up the scoring in the 13th minute when Atlanta’s keeper couldn’t hold on to a shot from Cavenaghi. 6 minutes later, Cavenaghi would get his first of 3 on the day on another dubious play by the keeper.

The game was on the verge of being closed out and the half hadn’t even finished yet. Any doubt would disappear a minute before the whistle when Lucas Ocampos got open near the area and fired a shot past the keeper. It looked like the second half would be a mere formality at this point.

That was when the Cavenaghi show really got going. In the 56th Cavegol scored River’s fourth goal minutes later scored an even better one. Cavenaghi got in behind the defense and as the keeper came out to challenge, he skillfully lifted the ball over the keeper and into the back of the net. It was Cavenaghi’s fifth goal of the season which moves him within 2 of the overall goal leader in the B Nacional.

When he didn’t score, Cavenaghi was busy setting up his team mates. Cavegol fed Fabian Bordagaray in the box to give the second half substitute his first goal in a River shirt and the team’s sixth. Atlanta had all but given up at that point when Andres Rios’ further punished The Bohemians with River’s 7th. An 87th minute consolation goal on a penalty was the only blemish on River’s afternoon.

The party in the stands was red and white today as the thousands of River fans poured out of the Nuevo Gasometro in complete satisfaction. The win moves River back to the top of the table with a point lead over Instituto. Next is a visit to Huracan on Sunday.

River will be the visiting team today, even though they will play their second of three straight games at San Lorenzo. A multitude is expected to accompany El Millonario this afternoon.

Matias Almeyda will make only one change with respect to last week’s starting lineup. Fernando Cavenaghi will be back in action taking Mauro Diaz’s spot. The starting eleven will be: Leandro Chichizola; Luciano Vella, Alexis Ferrero, Jonatan Maidana, Juan Manuel Díaz; Carlos Sánchez, Ezequiel Cirigliano, Lucas Ocampos; Alejandro Domínguez, Rogelio Funes Mori and Fernando Cavenaghi.

Germán Pezzella and Leandro González Pirez will be on the bench for the first time this season. They had not been named to the game day squad since returning to the club after the U-20 World Cup in August. Cristian Ledesma will also reappear on the bench while Cesar Gonzalez was left off the squad.

River is top of the table, tied with Instituto on 15 points. Ferro is only three points back and is coming off a 0-0 draw with Deportivo Merlo.

Ferro is a historic team in Argentina. Founded in 1904, the club’s golden era was the decade of the 80’s when they were perennial contenders. Under the guidance of legendary manager Carlos Griguol, they went on to win the First Division title for the first time ever in 1982 and then again in 1984. The subsequent years saw a slow decline in fortunes for the club culminating in relegation in 2000. Bankruptcy and relegation to the Primera B Metropolitana followed in 2001. In 2003 they would come back up to the B Nacional and since then have consistently been a mid table team. 2007 was their only disappointing campaign when they were forced into a playoff to avoid relegation.

Ferro, whose name translates to Western Railway, was founded by English rail workers who worked for a company of the same name. Their stadium is the oldest serving stadium among professional clubs in Argentina, though today’s game will be played at San Lorenzo. Ferro chose to move the game in order to accommodate the larger crowd that follows River Plate.

Ferro have won all three of their home games so far this season. They are one of the teams with fewest goals scored so far with 5.

The Outlook:River will try to build on a good performance last week. If they can play with the same cohesion that they did against Gimnasia, they should be able to capture another win. The dual attack of Funes Mori and Cavenaghi could be the most productive combo this season if the midfield is able to control possession. Ocampos and Dominguez will be key in sending the forwards towards goal. Cirigliano will again be the lone defensive midfielder so we should see a more offensive minded team that will benefit from the wide pitch at San Lorenzo.

Any hope River fans had that this week would see a continued return to the form showed in the first few games was dashed early on when it became clear the team was unable to pose a threat to the Ferro keeper. The three pronged attack Matias Almeyda sent out failed to generate chances in a game that seemed to be constantly interrupted by fouls.

River’s first half was cautious and deliberate, seemingly content with maintaining a slow pace. For periods of the game, River was organized and made the play circulate with ease but failed to show teeth in the last quarter of the field. River’s closest chance of the half came off a corner. The cross was headed away but on the rebound Alexis Ferrero volleyed a shot just over the bar.

The second half saw tighter coverage on both sides of the ball as the fouls kept piling up. Man of the match Leandro Chichizola was called on to make two enormous saves, but beyond that saw little action. Lucas Ocampos and Carlos Sanchez were the more active players in the final stretches of the game but were unable to find a way through Ferro’s defense.

All of the confidence gained after last week’s match went out the window. Today’s dull performance leaves more questions than answers. If there are any positives to take from this game it is that River are alone at the top of the table and still unbeaten.

River had a great opportunity to put some distance between themselves and the teams chasing them at the top of the table who all slipped up this weekend. Instead River will next host Atlanta with only the slimmest lead. Promotion is still on track, even if the train can’t find its momentum.

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.

River was determined to put an end to the run of draws today against Gimnasia. With 5 new faces in the starting lineup, the team looked solid from the start of the game. Last minute substitutes Mauro Diaz and Funes Mori were sent on for Fernando Cavenaghi and Martin Aguirre (who would come on in the second half), and quickly had the Gimnasia keeper trembling. It was Funes Mori who would find himself alone just a few feet away from the keeper early on. That shot inexplicably went right at the keeper and everyone feared it would be more of the same from River’s center forward.

While River dominated the run of play, it was Gimnasia who should have taken the lead in the first half. Gimnasia only saw River’s area a few times during the whole game, but found a penalty when Juan Manuel Diaz committed a clear foul just inside the box. Moments later, Chichizola came up huge and stopped Gonzalo Vargas’ shot keeping the score 0-0.

The first half closed with River affirming themselves more and more on the attack. Alejandro Dominguez began to find Funes Mori more often, and Ezequiel Cirigliano took over the midfield. As the half closed, the referee didn’t see a clear red card when one of Gimnasia’s defenders elbowed Funes Mori in the face.

That elbow must have woken up the forward, because just three minutes into the second half he would pop a loose ball over his defender and then send a scorching shot past the keeper from the doorstep of the Gimnasia area. Needless to say, the goal brought a lot of relief not only to the River faithful, but also to Funes Mori’s coaches and teammates who insisted the forward didn’t deserve the harsh criticism he had been given over the past year.

In the 23rd minute River would seal the victory. Chori Dominguez placed a free kick into the area for Juan Manuel Diaz to head the ball home and make up for that unnecessary penalty in the first half. 2-0 and now more than ever it seemed River could breathe easily, something they have not been able to do very often this season. Five minutes from time Matias Almeyda brought Funes Mori off for a much deserved round of applause.

In his post game comments Almeyda said he was happy with the win but more importantly, the team played well again, completely dominating the match for the better part of the second half. He also praised his striker who not only scored the goal, but also had his best showing in a long time. The win sends River to the top of the table for the time being as Gimnasia Jujuy’s game was postponed. Next is another game at San Lorenzo, this time as the visiting team against another opponent River used to face in the first division, Ferro Carril Oeste.

The week started with reporters asking if Matias Almeyda would continue as manager. Surely it is a bit premature to start thinking of a coaching change but in any case, Almeyda assured everyone he has no intention of going anywhere. However, it does look like he will be making a few changes to the team, including a return of Luciano Vella who did not play last week due to injury. Almeyda will also address the midfield, removing Nicolás Domingo and Cristian Ledesma, not only from the starting 11, but also from the game day roster. Vella, Alexis Ferrero and Ezequiel Cirigliano look likely to take the places of Agustín Alayes, Ledesma and Domingo.

Luciano Abecasis has recovered from a knee injury that has kept him out of the team for 3 weeks. It is unlikely he will be included on the gameday roster as the staff wants him back in playing form before risking another injury.

For the second straight week, River Plate will debut a new jersey. This time it is the new alternate shirt that returns to the historic tri-color stripes. Click here to see the new jersey.

After two games behind closed doors, the match against Gimnasia La Plata will mark the return of the River supporters. The game will be played at San Lorenzo as the Monumental is still banned for three home matches.

Alejandro Toia will be the referee in charge of the game against Gimnasia. The last time Toia refereed a River match was in 2008 when La Banda drew with Estudiantes 1-1.

This past Wednesday was Fernando Cavenaghi’s 28th birthday. Later in the week it also emerged that Cavegol may not be fit in time for Saturday’s game.

General admission tickets to see River host Gimnasia sold out in a matter of moments through an online sale. Many doubt that 20,000 tickets can be sold in a matter of minutes when the site itself is clearly incapable of handling the enormous demand. Fans are again pleading for reform in the way tickets are sold.

Ex-River legend Enzo Francescoli stated that if anyone thinks he could be of help at the club, he would make himself available. This is in response to club President Daniel Passarella’s call for dialogue with members of the opposition.

Ferro Carril Oeste has asked to play their home game against River at San Lorenzo for the 8th round of the B Nacional. This will ensure River is allotted at least 18,000 tickets and, as happened last week against Merlo at Independiente, will likely outnumber the home team fans.

River drew 0-0 with Deportivo Merlo in the first ever meeting between these two teams. As expected, Merlo played for the counter attack, trying to catch River’s back line off guard. This should have presented the opportunity for River to pressure the opponent and assault their goal. Instead River lacked cohesion and this time there would be no individual flash of brilliance to separate the teams on the scoreboard.

As has happened in virtually every game so far this season, the earlier chances went to the opponent, but luckily Merlo was unable to capitalize. With the midfield chasing more than they were creating, River’s attack had no teeth and rarely threatened. Few quality passes were completed in the final quarter of the field as Merlo’s steady defense kept pressure off their keeper.

River’s clearest chance of the first half came on a long ball over the defense by Martin Aguirre. That pass was met by a charging Fernando Cavenaghi who chipped the keeper only to see his shot float towards goal and unluckily hit the post.

In the second half Almeyda sent in Rogelio Funes Mori who had the closest shot of the second half. His long distant attempt cleared the keeper before dipping just wide. With minutes to go, River escaped a questionable penalty that would certainly have awarded Merlo the three points. Beyond these instances, the second half offered little for the highlight reel.

Over 20,000 supporters left the Libertadores disappointed that River was unable to find the form they had in the first three games. A concerning trend that River will have to address this week as attention turns to the next game, hosting Gimnasia La Plata at San Lorenzo.

Matias Almeyda will likely make a few changes to the starting lineup as the past two performances left much to be desired. It looks like Cristian Ledesma will come on for Luciano Vella, and River will form a 3-4-1-2 with Martin Aguirre feeding Cavenaghi and El Chori Dominguez up front.

As usual, tickets to see River at Independiente’s Estadio Libertadores de America against Deportivo Merlo were gone in a matter of moments through an online sale. All 12,000 general admission tickets were gobbled up in an instant, as were a majority of the reserved admission tickets allotted to River. A small amount of reserved admission tickets were still available as of today but are expected to sell before kickoff. 20,000 River fans will be present in the away end of the stadium.

River Plate legend Ramon Diaz has taken over as manager of Independiente. This comes to the dismay of many River fans who have been begging for Diaz to return to River, only to have their hearts broken every time the club directors decided to hire someone else when the coaching position was vacant.

Another ex-River legend though has returned to the club, or at least is close to lending a hand. Norberto Alonso, star of River during the glory years of the mid-80’s, and considered one of the greatest players ever to wear the red sash, has began the process of making peace with club president Daniel Passarella. The two men had a meeting Thursday to see how Alonso could contribute at the club. Alonso assured La Página Millonaria that the president has turned over a new leaf and is open to working with the political opposition at the club.

Acclaimed folk singer and avid River supporter, Ignacio Copani, is set to launch a new River inspired CD. Copani has 2 River albums already to his name, including Rivertidisimo which featured the current club’s anthem “El Más Grande”. The title of the new album? “Rivertidisimo, Side B – Now More Than Ever” which has raised a few eyebrows.

Finally, River Plate has been drawn in the same bracket as Lanus and San Lorenzo in the new Copa Argentina. This is the new nationwide single elimination tournament that includes all affiliated AFA clubs. Teams from the B Nacional and Primera Division enter the tournament at the round of 64 which should be played around the end of November.

Matias Almeyda has confirmed the starting lineup to visit Merlo: Leandro Chichizola; Carlos Sánchez, Agustín Alayes, Jonatan Maidana, Juan Manuel Díaz; Cristian Ledesma, Nicolás Domingo, Martín Aguirre, Lucas Ocampos; Alejandro Domínguez and Fernando Cavenaghi.

Luciano Vella has surprisingly been left out of the game day squad, while Gustavo Bou will get a spot on the bench alongside Gonzalo Marinelli, Alexis Ferrero, Carlos Arano, César González, Andrés Ríos, and Rogelio Funes Mori.

River enter the game in second place overall, 2 points behind Gimnasia y Esgrima de Jujuy.

River and Merlo, who have never played each other in an official game, are linked through one of River’s greatest ever players. José Manuel “El Charro” Moreno was a member of River’s famous “La Maquina” teams of the 40’s and considered one of the greatest Argentine players ever. Years later, 1977 to be exact, Moreno would become Merlo’s manager. Sadly, Moreno passed away the following year a few days after managing Merlo to victory. The club had gained the nickname “Los Charros” and to honor their fallen leader they renamed their stadium the Estadio José Manuel Moreno.

Merlo gained promotion to the B Nacional for the first time ever back in 2009. This season they find themselves right in the middle of the table, coming off a goalless draw with Quilmes. Merlo has only given up 2 goals this season, and on offense their primary weapon will be the counter attack. Alayes and Maidana will have their hands full with Maximiliano Barreiro, Merlo’s lone forward, as well as their top scorer this season Ramiro López.

Outlook: River will have to play a controlled and ordered game in order to get the three points. Almeyda is employing a fake back four as Sánchez will often race up the right side to join the attack. Merlo’s defense has been stingy so River will have to be patient, with Aguirre picking out Cavenaghi, Ocampos and El Chori on attack. With Sánchez playing more like a midfielder, the defense could potentially be outnumbered on a counter so Domingo and Ledesma’s defending in the midfield will be crucial. The other factor in River’s favor is the massive support they will have in the stands making this a virtual home game.

Cold, empty and forgettable. Fittingly, those adjectives match both the empty stands of the Nuevo Gasometro and River’s level of play. Playing their final game behind closed doors, River was unable to get things going even after an unexpected goal from Fernando Cavenaghi gave the Millonarios the lead.

River wasn’t able to break the pressure Defensa put on the ball. Their frantic and sloppy pace played into the hands of the team from Florencio Varela, who had the better of the chances until Fernando Cavenaghi got behind the back line to put a precise shot off the far post and in. As has happened several times already this season, River grabbed the lead when their opponent was playing better. Also of concern is the fact that the individual sparks keep outshining the team’s collective play.

The defense had a rough night, constantly overcomplicating matters when playing the ball out of the back. Alayes, Maidana, Diaz and newbie Vella all were slow when marking and out of sync when trying to push forward. The first half equalizer for Defensa came off a botched clearance that took an awkward spin past Vella leaving the opposing forward at point blank range to goal. Chichizola kept out the first shot but the rebound fell to Victor Piriz Alvez for the easy tap in. 1-1 and that was how the half would finish.

The second half saw Defensa being more active as River struggled to find a way to keep possession and build an attack. 13 minutes had passed when Piriz Alvez got his second goal on speedy counter that had the entire River defense in complete disarray.

As the game wore on, the ghosts of River past started to show up. Gone was the determined team that we saw in the first few games, replaced by that familiar unproductive nervousness and desperation. River looked destined to take home their first loss of the B Nacional campaign until second half substitute Funes Mori out jumped the defense to head home the equalizer in stoppage play.

If there were any positives to take away from this match it would be the performance of Lucas Ocampos. The youngster was dangerous around the area and collaborated in recovering the ball in the midfield. River slipped to second in the table and now heads to Avellaneda to face Deportivo Merlo next Saturday.

Luciano Abecasis has been ruled out for a month with a knee injury. His place in the starting lineup will be taken by Luciano Vella who will be making his debut for River.

River has come to terms with San Lorenzo to play their remaining 4 neutral site home games there. The fee, which is said to be around US$20,000, is much lower than what Huracan was charging River to use the Tomas Duco. River still have one home game to play behind closed doors, which will be Saturday against Defensa y Justicia, at San Lorenzo.

The smaller clubs of the B Nacional see a match against River as a way to clean up their financial troubles and many teams are pouncing on this opportunity. Such is the case for Deportivo Merlo who has announced they will host River at Independiente’s Libertadores de America. Merlo will make 18,000 tickets available to River supporters, while Merlo will have 10,000 available. It should be noted that Merlo’s home stadium only holds 5,000.

The Argentine press highlighted the fact that relegation has only strengthened support for the club who in August added more than 4 times as many new members than in July. Also they made note that River’s games on TV are #1 in the ratings each week.

Lat e in the week Fernando Cavenaghi and Alejandro Dominguez both trained apart from the rest of the squad as they had picked up minor injuries. They are both expected to be ready for the game Saturday.

Several players have gone on record over the past few weeks regarding the unity of the squad. This week it was Jonathan Maidana who highlighted the team’s togetherness and positive attitude, from both players and coaches. Meanwhile, last week’s standout player Martin Aguirre described the feeling of putting on the River shirt as “unbelievable”. Carlos Sanchez also was quoted as saying that nothing comes close to the support he has seen from River fans since his arrival.

Alejandro Dominguez also has a positive outlook on River’s current form, saying that slowly but surely the team is getting back on track and more importantly, rebuilding respect for the red and white jersey.

Matias Almeyda is forced to make one change to the starting lineup that had started every game so far. Luciano Abecasis is out with an injury, so that means Luciano Vella will make his debut for La Banda. The starting 11 will be: Leandro Chichizola; Luciano Vella, Agustín Alayes, Jonatan Maidana, Juan Manuel Díaz; Carlos Sánchez, Nicolás Domingo, Martín Aguirre, Lucas Ocampos; Alejandro Domínguez y Fernando Cavenaghi.

Domingo will get the start again despite having his worst performance so far last weekend against Quilmes.

Almeyda has named Venezuelan Cesar “El Maestrico” Gonzalez to the game day roster for the first time. Daniel Vega, who lost the starting keeper spot to Chichizola, is recovered from his injury but was not included.

Aguirre stated this week that River will benefit from the larger field of play at San Lorenzo, arguing that it will allow the team to keep the flow of the game to their liking.

River faced Defensa y Justicia in a friendly last year and won 3-1, with goals from Funes Mori, Lanzini and Ortega.

Defensa y Justicia enter the match right in the middle of the table. They won their last two games against Desamparados (1-2) and Chacarita (3-0) after dropping their first two games of the season. River of course is top of the table with Rosario Central and Gimnasia y Esgrima de Jujuy.

Defensa y Justicia are from Florencio Varela, located in southern greater Buenos Aires. They are the longest running team in the Argentine second division, gaining promotion to the category back in 1997. Their colors, green and yellow, were adopted in 1981 when the club was sponsored by a local bus company.

Among the players on the roster for Defensa y Justicia is Rolando Zarate, who had a brief and forgettable spell at River Plate in 2007. Zarate is not expected to start.

Matias Almeyda is expected to send out the same starting 11 for the fourth game in a row: Leandro Chichizola; Luciano Abecasis, Agustín Alayes, Jonatan Maidana, Juan Manuel Díaz; Carlos Sánchez, Nico Domingo, Martín Aguirre, Lucas Ocampos; Alejandro Domínguez and Fernando Cavenaghi.

The entire first team is at Almeyda’s disposal for Saturday’s game except Cesar Gonzalez who played yesterday in India for his national team Venezuela in their 1-0 loss to Argentina.

River Plate has played Quilmes 59 times, winning 36, drawing 14 and losing only 9 times. Furthermore, River has won 5 of the last 7. Their most recent meeting was in last season’s Clausura, at Quilmes, with River coming out victorious on a lone Paulo Ferrari goal.

Alejandro Dominguez will get extra attention from the Quilmes fans Saturday. El Chori started his career at Quilmes, but since leaving has had an antagonistic relationship with the Cervecero faithful. His biggest offense? Celebrating a goal he scored against Quilmes while playing for River Plate back in 2000.

Quilmes had the chance to save themselves – and River – on the final game of the Clausura last season, but got relegated when they lost to Olimpo. Now in the B Nacional, River is top of the table and Quilmes enter the game in 5th place having won 2 and lost 1.

Quilmes Atletico Club is located in the city of Quilmes which is in the south of greater Buenos Aires. The city is probably more famous to outsiders for the locally brewed beer also called Quilmes. Hence the club’s nickname of “Cervezeros” which translates to The Brewers. Quilmes is either the oldest club in Argentina or one of the oldest, depending on your source, and have won the Argentine first division title once (1978). Their stadium, the Estadio Centenario, holds 30,000 spectators.

Just over 4000 River fans will be in attendance to support El Millo. The internet only sale of tickets was marked by the usual problems and accusations as the website was unable to handle the onslaught of traffic. Some fans claimed they were able to secure tickets before the site went live, arousing the usual suspicions that the system was flawed from the beginning. It is estimated that around 600 tickets were sold before they were officially supposed to be available online. Clearly, while demand to see River only seems to grow, a reasonable solution to the logistics of selling tickets is not in sight.

From the first minute it seemed River was doing more chasing than playing. The start of the game saw a more aggressive Quilmes nearly take the lead on a shot that hit the crossbar. It is quite clear River is lost when Carlos Sanchez and Martin Aguirre are closed down, and that was exactly what Quilmes had in mind as they shut down River’s midfield early on. Nicolas Domingo suffered the most (until he got substituted for by Cristian Ledesma) as the team found it difficult to hold possession or find outlets when they did recover the ball.

Despite the early attempts, Quilmes’ attack didn’t have teeth and it seemed like the first half would finish scoreless. That is until Aguirre sprang Cavenaghi loose into the box and Cavegol thundered home his first goal in his return to River. To be clear, River had done little to deserve the advantage, but as has been evident this season, there are skilled players on this team that can turn a result around in a matter of seconds.

The lack of collective play continued in the second half with only the occasional appearances from Alejandro Dominguez giving River hope for a second goal. El Chori was determined to win the battle against the Quilmes fans who as expected jeered every time he touched the ball. Dominguez had a few close chances, but River remained incapable of closing out the game. As the match drew on, space opened up and the game ran end to end with both teams looking likely to score.

As time was running out, and after the referee Lunati had added extra time for Ledesma’s bloody clash with Telechea, Quilmes won a corner to the left of Chichizola. Injury time was only a minute old when the corner came into the box and the same player, Telechea, headed home the equalizer.

The draw was the fairest result with River having to now worry about finding it’s winning ways after a second straight game where the team showed an alarming lack of creativity and control. Almeyda also will have to worry about the injury to Luciano Abecasis who was substituted early in the first half. Next up is another game behind closed doors at Huracan against Defensa y Justicia.

“It felt like a training game.” That was how el Chori Dominguez characterized the 3-1 win over Desamparados played behind closed doors at Huracan. Not because of the effort put in by either side, but because of the lack of fans. The cavernous Tomas Duco saw River get the three points behind flashes of individual brilliance.

Desamparados at times complicated River during an uneventful first half where neither team seemed likely to score. Then it happened in an instant. Aguirre crossed into the box and the youngster Ocampos headed it home. A formula we are becoming accustomed to.

With time running out in the first half, it was Ocampos who crossed the ball to find Carlos Sanchez. Certainly a lopsided score at halftime compared to the run of play.

The second half seemed like a formality at times, especially when Sanchez nearly got the third when his shot came off the crossbar. Just when Desamparados scored to bring the game back to life, Cavenaghi missed his best chance yet this season lunging at a cross in front of goal only to see his tap incredibly go over the bar. Shortly after, El Chori would get his prize for his efforts scoring the third and final goal of the match.

Almeyda’s team proved they can win without shining, and now can look forward to the next game at Quilmes, with the return of their faithful supporters in the stands where they belong.

Video: See the goals

DT Matias Almeyda will likely be starting the same 11 players that won in Mendoza last weekend, marking the first time in a long time that a lineup is repeated for three games in a row. The tentative starters, again, would be: Leandro Chichizola; Luciano Abecasis, Agustín Alayes, Jonatan Maidana, Juan Manuel Díaz; Carlos Sánchez, Nico Domingo, Martín Aguirre, Lucas Ocampos; Alejandro Domínguez and Fernando Cavenaghi.

The fans, players and coaching staff are all eager to see the team captain Fernando Cavenaghi get his first goal of the season, and a lot of talk this week was how to get El Torito the ball more often.

Will we see any of the U20 players on the bench? What about Ledesma and Gonzalez, the last two pre-season signings? The bench players should be announced early Saturday morning.

Desamparados de San Juan are an unlikely rival for giant like River, but this is the reality of an unexpected season in the B Nacional. The San Juaninos won their first game and then lost last weekend at Chacarita 1-0. The good news for River fans is that Desamparado’s keeper, Matias Giordano is one of us! In an interview this week, Giordano confessed to being a lifelong Millonario and rabid follower of the unstoppable River teams of the 1990’s.

River has only played Desamparados once, and that was back in 1969. The San Juaninos didn’t have a fun afternoon that day getting crushed by River 7-0 with the legendary Oscar Mas getting four of those. Although they only have played once, Desamparados is a historic club with 92 years of history in the lower leagues.

And finally, the effort to install video screens outside Huracan has been rejected by the city officials, citing a lack of time to organize and ensure adequate safety precautions were taken. The main organizers, Movimiento Soy de River, have vowed to push through approval for River’s next game at Huracan.

Needless to say, as happens with any new River jersey, the stores couldn’t keep up with demand as fans were desperate to get their hands on this commemorative shirt. The design is inspired by the first shirt River wore back in 1901. Click here to see pictures of the new kit.

Fresh off his participation with Argentina at the FIFA U-20 World Cup, Roberto Pereyra was sold to Udinese in Italy. River will get around $6.4M for the 75% of his rights the club owned. It was pretty much assumed Pereyra would be sold before the season even though fans would prefer to keep the youngster around a bit longer.

Another U-20 World Cup star, Ecuadoran Juan Cazares, will remain at River Plate. Cazares starred in the last reserve games of last season and his continuation at the club was in doubt until the club made a payment to his former team, Independiente del Valle (Ecuador), and agreed to pay another $1M on any future transfer.

Cristian Ledesma has his paperwork in order and can now make his official return for River if Almeyda chooses to include him. Meanwhile, Cesar Gonzalez is with the Venezuelan national team for their upcoming games against Argentina and Guinea.

Monday marked Ramon Angel Diaz’s 52nd birthday. Ramon’s birthday wish? “To see River back in Primera, of course!”

In the first game since the authorities decided to allow away fans, Quilmes will allow 4,100 River fans to see the game this Saturday in the south of Buenos Aires. Tickets were made available exclusively through an online site which of course crashed under the flood of traffic.

You don’t fix something that isn’t broken, and Matias Almeyda won’t change the team that has started the season with three straight wins. Saturday against Quilmes, Almeyda will send out the same 11 players for the fourth game in a row.

Matias Almeyda’s squad found themselves under pressure early falling behind 1-0 to Independiente Rivadavia in Mendoza, only to turn it around and lead by halftime.

The game started at a very entertaining pace with both sides having their chances. River was pushed forward by the multitude that defiantly made their presence felt despite the outstanding ban on away supporters. It was Independiente though that found the early goal. Mauricio Ferradas got on the end of a long pass over the River back line to shoot the home team into the lead. Leandro Chichizola should have come out to challenge and in the post goal moments was seen in a heated argument with Carlos Sanchez.

River quickly settled the nerves and went on the attack. The equalizer came 10 minutes later when Luciano Abecasis’ cross into the box was headed home by Lucas Ocampos. From there Almeyda’s team began to take control of the game through Carlos Sanchez and Martin Aguirre. With five minutes left in the first half, an exquisite pass from Sanchez
sprang Fernando Cavenaghi free near the end line. Cavenaghi’s centering pass became a mad scramble in the 6 yard box before Aguirre smashed home the loose ball from a few yards out. River had the lead with minutes to go in the first half and never looked back.

The second half stated with River pushing forward trying to close out the game. River’s midfield led the way with El Chori Dominguez again showing a skill level far better than the B Nacional, and Ocampos consistently finding space near the opposing box. In the 26th minute, Carlos Sanchez stole the ball near the right touchline, advanced forward and just when it seemed he would square the ball across to Cavenaghi, he fired a rocket to the far post. 3-1 and the match was decided, sending the 10,000 “neutral” fans into full party mode.

The confidence gained from a game like this will be almost as important to River going forward as the three points were. With the win El Millo stays tied for first place with Rosario Central and will face Desamparados next weekend. Let’s hope the victories keep coming!

Mendoza is getting ready to have a festive Saturday, during which passion will defeat political bureaucracy. It will beat out those that pander to Grondona. Those that always make decisions about what happens in the stands but always – always – watched football from behind a desk. Those that don’t understand that football would not be football without its people. Without ‘the’ people.

They are the River fans that for many years now have led every ranking of attendances and ticket revenue while on the field the team compiled its worst campaigns. A support that adopted the motto “During the worst times even more” as a way to cope with this obsession for River. That has been demonstrated since Friday when the River supporters in
Mendoza, despite the freezing temperatures, accompanied the team from the moment they arrived .

This afternoon will not be different, when fans from Buenos Aires, Cordoba, San Juan and hundreds of other nearby towns come together. They will come together at the Malvinas Argentinas to say “Present” much to the dismay of the authorities or AFA.

Those that thought that since they had won the fight against Rosario Central, they would do the same with the fans of the club from Núñez. But they didn’t take into account that “The country is River”, as that historic banner that used to hang in the old Alimrante Brown read. Wherever River plays, no matter how remote, there will always be River fans accompanying the red and white shirt.

Yes, today even if Parque San Martin will not be dressed in red and white, River will have the support of 10,000 rabid fans, because passion can’t be camouflaged. With colors, or without, the fans will again take over another of Argentine football’s stadiums and show what River Plate is during the tough times.

2. –The match will be played at the Estadio Malvinas Argentinas, which has nearly double the capacity of Independiente’s stadium and is a regular stop during River Plate’s summer exhibitions.

3. –Independiente Rivadavia is the current club of ex-River player Cristian Fabbiani, as well as a less notorious ex-River, Rene Lima.

4.– Independiente Rivadavia lost their season opener away at Almirante Brown, 2-0.

5. –The referee will be Diego Abal who has previously officiated 11 River matches. Of those matches, La Banda won 3, drew 3 and lost 5.

6. –Almeyda is expected to send out the same starting 11 that played against Chacarita on Tuesday night: Chichizola; Abecasis, Maidana, Alayes, JM Diaz; Sanchez, Domingo, Aguirre, Ocampos; Dominguez, Cavenaghi