Leonardo Ponzio returned to the Monumental stadium as interim head coach of Club Atlético River Plate this Sunday, September 6, after an absence of 1,371 days. The team faced Independiente Rivadavia aiming for three important points for their aspirations in the annual table and Copa Libertadores qualification. River Plate entered the match placed 11th in the Liga Profesional Argentina, with 7 points from 7 games and a goal difference of -1.
How did Ponzio's return to the bench unfold?
The last time Leonardo Ponzio was at the Monumental in a technical role was on December 5, 2021. His return, after 1,371 days, came in a context of an interim role he clearly defined. "The word was interim. It must be respected. I know this will be a consequence of many matches and it will be respected." Ponzio stated. His role is expected to last until December, although it will depend on results.
Ponzio is a historic club figure, with 358 appearances, 10 goals and 16 assists between 2007 and 2009, in addition to winning two Copa Libertadores titles. His return from Europe to play the second half of the B Nacional season is in the past, but his legacy as a player gives him special weight in this new role. The interim coach received support from 7,000 fans in Banfield last week, who chanted his name.
What lineup did River Plate field?
Ponzio chose to repeat the starting eleven from the win against Banfield, with one forced change. Aníbal Moreno was unavailable due to a lumbar muscle strain suffered in that match. In his place, Fausto Vera occupied the central midfielder position. The probable formation featured Santiago Beltrán in goal; Gonzalo Montiel, Lucas Martínez Quarta, Nicolás Otamendi and Marcos Acuña in defense; Tobías Andrada, Fausto Vera and Tomás Galván in midfield; Thiago Almada in an advanced role; and Ángel Correa alongside Sebastián Driussi as forwards.
River Plate sought with this team not only the three Clausura points, but also a broader objective. The club needed to cut Independiente Rivadavia's advantage in the annual table, keep their Libertadores hopes alive, aim for the Sudamericana, and break into the top 8 of that table. With eight matches remaining in the regular stage after this one, every point counts. You can follow the team's progress on our standings page.
What conditioned Independiente Rivadavia's lineup?
A curious factor influenced the visiting team. Forward Maxi Salas, on loan from River Plate to the Mendoza club, was not included in the squad. Alfredo Berti, director of Independiente Rivadavia, explained the reason. "He will not play due to the clause included in the loan contract, which obligated the Mendoza club to pay River u$s 500,000 if they included him," Berti said. This clause freed River Plate from any payment and prevented Salas from facing his parent club.
The probable eleven for Independiente Rivadavia included Nicolás Bolcato; Leonardo Costa, Iván Villalba or Alejo Osella, Alejo Osella, Juan Elordi; Gonzalo Ríos, Tomás Bottari, José Florentín, Matías Fernández; Álex Arce and Fabrizio Sartori. The Mendoza team arrived to test the solidity of a River Plate side showing positive recent form of three wins and two draws in their last five matches, and coming off a 3-2 win over Banfield.
What is River Plate's context in the league?
The match took place within an irregular season for the Millonarios. Before the encounter, the team had 7 points from 7 matchdays, with a record of 2 wins, 1 draw and 4 losses. They were 9 points behind the leader, Argentinos JRS, making each match vital to close the gap. The good run of the last five games, however, injected optimism for the immediate future.
After the clash with Independiente Rivadavia, the schedule offers no respite. River Plate's next fixture is on Saturday, September 12, when they visit eighth-placed Atlético Tucumán in a key match you can find on our fixtures schedule. With Ponzio in temporary charge, the team aims to consolidate their improvement and climb the table, match by match.
