Aníbal Moreno has been medically cleared and is available for selection by River Plate after recovering from a lumbar injury, while Santiago Beltrán and Nicolás Otamendi returned to training this week. Interim coach Leonardo Ponzio must now decide whether to include Moreno in the matchday squad for Saturday's game against Estudiantes de Río Cuarto or ease him back gradually to build match fitness.
Moreno completed his third consecutive session with the group following a 45-day recovery process for a disc protrusion. His last official appearance was on August 26 in the Copa Sudamericana elimination match against Independiente Santa Fe. The rehabilitation included daily physiotherapy and specific gym exercises for a condition the coaching staff described as complex and different from a traditional muscle injury.
Beltrán and Otamendi confirmed for Estudiantes clash
Santiago Beltrán, who was left out of the bench for the last matchday, trained normally and will be the starting goalkeeper against Estudiantes. Nicolás Otamendi, the team captain, performed regenerative work without any physical issues after his involvement with the Argentina national team. Both were called up by Lionel Scaloni for the match against Benin and rejoined the squad at the Camp afterwards.
The probable starting lineup under consideration features Beltrán; Montiel, Martínez Quarta, Otamendi, Acuña; Andrada, Vera, Galván; Pereyra or Beltrán; Correa and Driussi. Tobías Andrada has also recovered from injury, but Thiago Almada remains sidelined with a muscle tear sustained against Huracán and is expected to rejoin team training next week.
Context of a decisive stretch
River Plate returns to official competition this Saturday after a 21-day FIFA break. The club sits ninth in the Liga Profesional Argentina with 13 points from 10 games, outside the qualification spots for playoffs and cups in the Anual tournament. The upcoming six matches in 30 days, including the postponed matchday 12 fixture against Sarmiento, are decisive for aiming for the 2027 Copa Libertadores.
During Moreno's absence, Fausto Vera performed well as a central midfielder in the wins against Banfield and Independiente Rivadavia. The team arrives with a run of three wins, one draw and one defeat in its last five outings, according to our results data. Forward Tomás Galván, the team's top scorer with six goals this season, netted in the recent loss to Huracán.
Ponzio faces the dilemma of reintegrating Moreno immediately or doing so step by step. "He will have to choose one of the two scenarios that present themselves," the coach said. The option to preserve him aims to avoid a setback in a stage where River Plate no longer has commitments in international competitions or the Copa Argentina and can focus solely on the league. Leonardo Ponzio will announce his final decision on Friday.
