Club Atlético River Plate returns to official competition this Saturday, October 10, facing Estudiantes de Río Cuarto at the Estadio Monumental for the 12th matchday of the Torneo Clausura. The match ends a 21-day break, the longest of the season, caused by the FIFA window and the postponement of a fixture against Sarmiento de Junín.
The team has not played an official match since September 19, when they lost 2-1 to Huracán at home. That result left the Millonarios in ninth place in the table, with 13 points from four wins, one draw, and five defeats. They are currently on a run of four consecutive losses at the start of the schedule, a situation the coaching staff urgently needs to turn around.
Ponzio in charge
Leonardo Ponzio, the manager who took over following the departure of Eduardo Coudet, is tasked with steering the team back on course. "Ponzio's mission is to guide the team to the Clausura title, which would salvage a forgettable season," the coach explained. His first challenge after the break is a direct rival in the lower part of the table, as Estudiantes de Río Cuarto sits in 15th place.
Players on international duty
Several members of the squad were involved with the Argentina national team during the pause. Nicolás Otamendi, Gonzalo Montiel, Marcos Acuña, and Ángel Correa participated in Lionel Messi's farewell event on the night of October 6. In contrast, Thiago Almada and Tobías Andrada were released from the national squad due to muscle injuries and are already working on their recovery at the training ground. Having the full squad available will be key for a busy run of games, including the postponed match against Sarmiento on October 14.
The league context is challenging. River Plate is eight points behind Argentinos Juniors, the last team that would qualify for the 2027 Copa Libertadores. With the aim of fighting for an international spot, every point from now on is vital. The team showed character in their last away win, a 2-1 victory over Atlético Tucumán on September 12 with goals from Tobías Andrada and Thiago Almada. To follow the evolution of the league table, updated information is on standings.
The club requested and obtained from the AFA the postponement of the match against Sarmiento, originally scheduled for October 7, to allow the internationals to rest. That game will be played on Wednesday the 14th. In the meantime, the team maintained rhythm with a friendly against Atlético Escobar, which they won 5-0. The next official appointment is Saturday at 21:30 at the Monumental, with River Plate needing a victory to reignite their Clausura campaign.
More detail at La Nacion AR Deportes
