“Muñeco, Muñeco, Muñeco…!” The reception was more than exciting for Marcelo Gallardo in the first match of his second term as coach of RiverThe millionaires took over the Monumental and set up a huge stage to meet again with the most successful coach in their history. Red and white smoke, full stands, imposing chants… However, the party was not complete. The victory was missing.
Gallardo’s new River could not beat the leader HurricaneIt was a production that went from great to lesser, with a faded epilogue, without reaction, without contagion. And it ended in a bitter 1-1.
Gallardo called on a formation that also saw the debut of Germán Pezzella. The former Betis player formed a central duo with Chilean Paulo Díaz. From midfield up, Muñeco bet on Rodrigo Aliendro and Felipe Peña for balance and the precocious talents, Franco Mastantuono and Claudio Echeverri, for creation. With Pablo Solari for the overflow and with Adam Bareiro as center forward in place of the injured Miguel Borja.
River started off by winning quickly with a good resolution from Diablito Echeverri. However, they couldn’t sustain it. Huracán has plenty of conviction and skill. Then, the team from Parque Patricios didn’t back down and tied the score shortly after with a goal from Chilean Rodrigo Echeverría, with a header after a nice play that started with a bad pass from Peña. And in the second half, the team from Parque Patricios even came closer to victory, enough to justify their undefeated lead.
Marcelo Gallardo, honored at the Monumental
Gallardo, after the draw, declared: “The draw lowers our hopes a little, but that doesn’t have to happen. We have to prepare for Wednesday, which is important.” And as the main difference with what Martín Demichelis proposed, Muñeco remarked: “We are looking for a more aggressive, more physical team. We achieved that in the first 20 or 25 minutes. That is important.” And he also praised Huracán. River is now focused on its main objective: the round of 16 of the Libertadores, which it will start playing this Wednesday as a visitor against Talleres, in Córdoba.
Gallardo’s return ended a Saturday in which Boca had previously tied (1-1 with Independiente Rivadavia, in Mendoza). The Xeneize team managed to equalize at the last minute with a goal from Cristian Medina and has not found consistency. It was very close to losing. What’s more, the team from Mendoza even wasted a penalty: Sergio Romero saved it from Sebastián Villa.
The other big team that played this Saturday was San Lorenzo, who lost 0-1 at home to Atlético Tucumán in the last minute. The Barça fans insulted the president Marcelo Moretti and the players. And the coach Leandro Romagnoli threatened to resign, but the leaders convinced him to stay. El Ciclón lives a very delicate reality.
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Boca and San Lorenzo will meet on Sunday at the Bombonera, but before that, the xeneizes will play on Thursday at the Bombonera against Cruzeiro for the Copa Sudamericana and the cuervos will do so on Tuesday at the Bidegain against Atlético Mineiro for the Libertadores.
So far, no big team has won in the tenth round of the Argentine league. Racing had lost at home on Friday, 0-1 against Gimnasia. Today, Independiente, who is suffering a severe crisis, will play and will visit Estudiantes in La Plata. Today, the only leader is Huracán with 20 points, but Vélez could reach it if it beats Banfield today.
