After an epic qualification in the quarterfinals, River Plate opens on Tuesday, October 24, the fight for a place in the decision of the 2017 version of the Copa Libertadores of America. At the Estadio Monumental de Nuñes in Buenos Aires, the Lanus will host the first match of the semifinals. The kickoff is set for 8:15 pm GMT.
Despite involving two Argentine teams, the rules of the competition establishes the use of the away goal as a tiebreaker. The return match is scheduled for October 31 at the stadium La Fortaleza.
River Plate’s recent performance
Taking Jorge Wilstermann’s 3-0 lead in Bolivia in the first leg of the quarterfinals, River Plate was considered off the charts by many analysts. However, it came back on top in style. Facing a packed Monumental de Nuñes, he thrashed the Bolivians 8-0 to ensure their survival in the fight for the continental title.
It was certainly the most expressive result of the team in the competition. In the Round of 16, the first phase of the Libertadores kills, the River passed without dramas by the Guarani, of Paraguay. Away from home, he scored 2-0 in the first match. Then, he only managed the advantage by tying 1 to 1 in Buenos Aires.
In the group stage, the rankings were awarded with the first place in key 3. The River accumulated 13 (four wins, one draw and one loss) of the 18 possible points, scoring nine goals and conceding five.
With the change in format and calendar of the Libertadores, the competition has presented great periods without games in the intervals between its phases. This means that the moral effect obtained by the River for the defeat before Jorge Wilstermann ends up being diluted by the commitments in the Argentine Championship and the Argentine Cup.
However, even the results in the local tournaments have been satisfactory. The River came on the pitch for the last time on October 18. He defeated Atletico Atlanta, 4-1, to qualify for the semifinals and extended a losing streak to seven matches (four wins and three draws).
In the Argentine Championship, the most recent confrontation happened on October 15. At home, against Atletico Tucuman, the River did not pass from 2 to 2. With 12 points (three wins and three draws) is the vice leader. It’s six points behind Bocar Juniors.
The current form of Lanus
Local Lanus performance is slightly lower. In the Argentine Championship, where he last played on October 13, the team also reached 12 points (four wins and two losses) by beating Union Santa Fe 2-1. However, due to the tiebreaker criteria, only in fifth place.
In the Argentina Cup, his participation was brief. After beating Sportivo Barracas, 5-1 in the first leg, he was eliminated by Union Santa Fe by taking 2 to 1 in the second stage.
In the Copa Libertadores, the Lanus was one of the protagonists of the elimination of Chapecoense. Lost, at home, by 2 to 1, for the team from Santa Catarina. However, he won the points of the match, which had the score reverted to 3 to 0, due to the irregular lining of defender Luis Otávio. With that, he reached 13 points (four wins, one draw and one defeat) being in first place in group 7.
In the Round of 16, there was The Strongest, from Bolivia, ahead. It drew 1 to 1 in the altitude and secured its classification when winning, at home, by 1 to 0. In the quarters had its best moment in the dispute. Against another Argentine team, the San Lorenzo, lost 2-0 in the first leg. In La Fortaleza, he returned the score and reached the standings by winning the penalty shootout 4 to 3.
History of the bouts between River Plate and Lanus
This will be the third match between teams this year. The first, for the Supercopa of Argentina, finished with victory of Lanus by 3 0 in February. The river gave the change soon after. In March, for the second round of the 2016/2017 Argentine Championship, he scored 3-1.
PREDICTION: River Plate win @ 1.72