The Last Meeting between Boca Juniors and River Plate

The last time the two most popular teams in Argentina faced each other was on Sunday, September 1 of this year, in the fifth round of the Argentine Superliga (0-0).

That goalless draw at the Monumental was the first match between them after the historic final of the Copa Libertadores, which River Plate won 3-1 at the Santiago Bernabéu on December 9, 2018.

Furthermore, it served as a prelude to the two Copa Libertadores matches to be played in October.

The coach of Boca Juniors, Guillermo Barros Schelotto, who became the champion of the Argentine Superliga twice, left the bench shortly after losing the Libertadores final against River Plate and signed with Los Angeles Galaxy in the US MLS.

Gustavo Alfaro took his place, who, unlike 'Mellizo', prioritizes defense over attack. Also, seven starters left the club: Darío Benedetto (Olympique de Marseille), Nahitan Nandez (Cagliari in Italy), Lisandro Magallán (Ajax in the Netherlands), Lucas Olaza (Celta de Vigo), Wilmar Barrios (Zenit in Russia), Cristian Pavón (Los Angeles Galaxy) and captain Pablo Pérez (Independiente).

In addition, several substitutes left the team. The most emblematic ones are defender Leonardo Jara, midfielder Fernando Gago, and goalkeeper Agustín Rossi.

Jara, who entered in the second half of the return match, went to DC United in the MLS; Gago, who played only a few minutes in Madrid due to an injury, went to Vélez; and Rossi, the starting goalkeeper in the first leg, is now the goalkeeper of Lanús.

The Italian midfielder Daniele De Rossi, the offensive midfielder Eduardo Salvio, the midfielder Alexis Mac Allister, the Venezuelan forward Jan Hurtado, and the striker Franco Soldano are some of the signings made by the club to renew.

River Plate, on the other hand, kept Marcelo Gallardo as the coach and sought to make the least possible changes to the lineup.

Only two of the starters in Madrid left the club.

Gonzalo 'Pity' Martínez, scorer of the third goal in the match that River Plate won 3-1, signed with Atlanta United in the MLS, and the defender Jonatan Maidana, one of the most successful and beloved players by the fans, went to Toluca in Mexico.

In addition, Uruguayan forward Rodrigo Mora retired, and Uruguayan defender Camilo Mayada went to San Luis in Mexico. Both were substitutes.

Chilean defender Paulo Díaz was the only signing of the team in this transfer window.

Boca Juniors and River Plate faced each other at the end of 2018 in the final of the Copa Libertadores of that year.

The first leg, played at La Bombonera, ended in a 2-2 draw. Ramón '"Wanchope" Ábila and Darío Benedetto scored for Xeneize, while Lucas Pratto and Carlos Izquierdoz (own goal) scored for Millonario.

The second leg, which was supposed to be played at the Monumental, was played at the Santiago Bernabéu because a group of River Plate fans attacked the rival bus with stones and bottles, injuring some players as they were heading to the stadium.

River Plate and Boca Juniors will face each other at the Monumental on Tuesday, October 1, at 21:30 local time (0:30 GMT on Wednesday) in the first leg of the Copa Libertadores semifinals.

The second leg will be on Tuesday, October 22, at La Bombonera, and the winner will face Gremio or Flamengo in the final.