Club Atlético River Plate announced its squad list on Saturday, September 6th, for the upcoming Liga Profesional Argentina match against Independiente Rivadavia at the Monumental. The roster, posted on the club's official Twitter account and reported by Ole, marks the home debut as manager for interim coach Leonardo Ponzio, who took over following Eduardo Coudet's departure.
The team arrives in good spirits after a win in Ponzio's first match in charge and a dramatic 3-2 victory over Banfield last week. In the league standings, River Plate sits in 11th place with 7 points from two wins, one draw, and four losses in seven games. They have a -1 goal difference, having scored seven and conceded eight, and trail leaders Argentinos Juniors by nine points. Their recent form over the last five outings is strong, with three wins and two draws.
Who is in and who is out for River Plate?
The squad list brings significant news in defense. Tobías Ramírez returns to the first-team squad after undergoing surgery for an external meniscus injury on his right knee in May. The youth player had been featuring for the reserves during his recovery. Young defender Valentín Lucero has also been added.
On the absentee side, Aníbal Moreno was omitted due to a lumbar strain and did not even sign the roster at the Florencio Sola training ground. Also, Joaquín Freitas was left out while negotiating his transfer to Flamengo, a move completed hours later with the player officially presented at the Mengão's stadium.
What will Ponzio's team look like?
The probable starting eleven managed by the coaching staff includes Santiago Beltrán in goal. The defensive line would be formed by Gonzalo Montiel, Lucas Martínez Quarta, Nicolás Otamendi, and Marcos Acuña. In midfield, Tobías Andrada, Fausto Vera, and Tomás Galván would make up the central trio. In attack, Thiago Almada would operate behind forwards Ángel Correa and Sebastián Driussi.
With Aníbal Moreno absent, Fausto Vera will remain as the starting central midfielder. His next appearance is expected in River Plate's following match, an away fixture against Atlético Tucumán on September 12th. The opponent, currently eighth in the table, will be an important challenge in the team's quest to climb the standings. You can check the full schedule on our fixtures page.
Who are all the players called up by River Plate?
The complete list of players called up for the match is as follows. The goalkeepers are Santiago Beltrán and Ezequiel Centurión. The defenders are Gonzalo Montiel, Tobías Ramírez, Lautaro Rivero, Giovanni González, Marcos Acuña, Lucas Martínez Quarta, Nicolás Otamendi, Francisco Ortega, and Valentín Lucero.
The midfielders summoned are Fausto Vera, Tomás Galván, Juan Cruz Meza, Lucas Silva, Tobías Andrada, Mauro Arambarri, Thiago Almada, and Lautaro Pereyra. Finally, the forwards on the list are Ángel Correa, Sebastián Driussi, Rafael Santos Borré, and Lucas Beltrán. To view the full squad and their data, visit our squad section.
The match against Independiente Rivadavia represents an opportunity for River Plate to secure three points at home and continue their positive run of two consecutive wins. The encounter takes place at the Estadio Monumental this weekend, with Ponzio seeking his second victory in charge of the millionaire's club.
