2024-08-26 01:52:22
In Huevo Acuña’s debut, River tied 0-0 with Newell’s at the Monumental and extended its weak run in the Professional League. With last night’s draw, it has three consecutive draws (two with Marcelo Gallardo) and won only one of its last six matches in the championship. As things stand, it is in tenth place with 17 points, the same as Boca.
On the other hand, for Newell’s (12 points) their visit to the Monumental left a positive balance, despite the penalty that was not called in the first half for a handball by Meza. Gallego Méndez’s team showed a very decent version against the squad full of big names of the home team, and that was despite arriving in a very delicate situation: three consecutive defeats (one against Central, no less), five without a win and elimination during the week in the Argentine Cup (against Central Córdoba).
As for the development of the game, River tried to show the intensity typical of Muñeco’s teams, with suffocating pressure and a lot of strong legs, although at times he went too far as to pretend, as when the Colombian Borja yelled rudely at a ball boy to do what his name indicates.
The aim of such pressure was to get the ball quickly, something River achieved with flying colours, although they later failed to finish off Lucas Hoyos. The home side will regret an incredible play towards the end, which seemed to be a goal in any case. Lanzini gave a great pass between the lines to Meza, who got into the area and only had to touch it with Borja (practically next to him) for the Colombian to push in the goal. But the midfielder, inexplicably, gave it too far back to the scorer.
River’s next match, as it prepares for the Libertadores quarter-finals against Colo-Colo (to be played between September 17 and 26), will be against Independiente on Sunday at 5pm in Avellaneda. While Newell’s will face Belgrano a day earlier, at 3pm in Rosario.