With my mind set on the Copa Libertadores, River will face Defensa y Justicia this Saturday for date 19 of the League that it leads comfortably. The Millionaire (41 points) and the Falcon (30) will meet at an unusual time, 4:30 p.m., at the Monumental and the visit will seek to shorten the distance with the pointer. They will have ESPN Premium encrypted television.
The day will start earlier with the clash between Belgrano (28 points) and the urgent Vélez (18), from 2:00 p.m. in Córdoba (TNT Sports). From 7:00 p.m. there will be two other games: in Santiago del Estero they will face another two in need of adding, Central Córdoba (20) and Huracán (18), with television from TNT Sports; while Rosario Central (30) and Institute (21) they will be measured in Arroyito, with transmission of the Public TV.
They will close it on Saturday Racing (19) and Banfield (18) from 9:00 p.m. in Avellaneda. Gago’s team is the leader in the Libertadores -on Thursday they visit Flamengo- but they are only four points behind the last place in the League and their margin is narrowing. El Taladro, meanwhile, comes from winning his first game with Falcioni as DT and is going for more.
River, between League and Libertadores
Demichelis’s team has a key duel on the agenda for their future on Next Wednesday as a local for Fluminense, looking to continue with chances in the Libertadores. He only added 4 points in the same number of games, he is last in his zone and is almost forced to win his remaining two, against the Brazilians (9 units) and against The Strongest (6), also at home, on Tuesday the 27th. The group is completed by Sporting Cristal (4).
But first there is the meeting with Defensa, a match that could become ephemeral against the possibility of the debut of the youthful Claudio Echeverri. The hitch that recently dazzled in the South American Sub 17 He went to the bank last date against Vélez (2-2) but did not enter and against the Falcon he will have a new chance to wear his 19th jersey.
Demichelis will not be able to count on his midfielder and captain this Saturday, Enzo Pérez (left knee synovitis), and defenders Paulo Díaz (right ankle arthralgia) and Emanuel Mammana (left knee synovitis). Meanwhile, Franco Armani, with weak recent performances, will continue with the confidence of DT and would be captain again.
After a great start to the year, The Kaiser team suffered a very irregular May and has barely two successes in its last seven appearances between the League and the Cup. The record is completed by three draws and two losses, including the historic win received in Rio against Fluminense (1-5).
For its part, Defense and Justice also comes from a weak May. Julio Vaccari’s team is fifth in the League and comfortable in his South American group (second with 9 points, behind Millonarios -10- and ahead of América de Minas Gerais -4- and Peñarol -0-) but they won only one of their last 5 games (three draws and one loss).
River will seek to break a negative streak in local leagues against Defensa y Justicia, which they have not beaten since 2018, when he won 3-1 with Marcelo Gallardo as DT and goals from Pity Martínez, Pinola and Pratto. Since then, there have been two wins for Florencio Varela’s team and two draws.
