River Plate vs. Boca Juniors: 6 Players to Watch in Argentina's Superclasico

Few derbies in the football world conjure up the same passion and excitement as River Plate's biannual clash with Buenos Aires arch-rivals Boca Juniors. On Sunday, the two Argentine rivals meet in the latest installment of the scintillating derby. 

From Carlos Tevez to Javier Mascherano, Gonzalo Higuain to Willy Caballero and taking in young stars Lucas Ocampos, Erik Lamela and Nicolas Gaitan, some of Europe's top talents cut their teeth in this clash, on both sides of the divide. 

But who is likely to decide the 90 minutes at the Monumental. Picking three representatives of both Argentina's biggest clubs in the interest of fairness, these are the six men you should be keeping an extremely close eye on when the ball starts rolling at the weekend. 

It took a little time for Cesar Meli to adapt to the unique pressure that is playing in front of a packed Bombonera. The ex-Colon star joined Boca in the last transfer window, but struggled to show his true colours as the team spluttered under legendary coach Carlos Bianchi. 

With ex-Tigre and Nacional man, and former Xeneize playing favourite Rodolfo Arruabarrena now at the helm, however, the cultured midfielder is finally showing the form that convinced Boca he was good enough to wear the famous blue and gold colours. 

The 22-year-old brought to mind Ever Banega when he first started strutting around the Bombonera. Meli passes the ball diligently and looks the break the line, but he adds a speed and power to his game that is hard to match in the middle. 

Tomas Martinez may not see a great deal of minutes this weekend. The River Plate playmaker, just 19, has been used sparingly by Marcelo Gallardo, entering in the last half-hour off the bench to help the Primera Division leaders extend their advantage in a brilliant start to the season. 

If the Millonario are struggling to break down their hated neighbours, however, Gallardo may well turn to Martinez to make the difference with his brilliant control and eye for a pass. 

Martinez has pitched in this season with three league assists in just five games, predominately as a substitute. His strong running is reminiscent of Lamela in his first days in the Monumental, and the kid possesses a secret weapon in a terrific dead-ball delivery. 

Ex-Boca Juniors coach Carlos Bianchi was thinking to the future in the last transfer window. As well as 22-year-old Meli, Jonathan Calleri was plucked from All Boys at just 21 to try and revitalise the Xeneize front-line. 

Bianchi may be gone, but the fruits of his transfer policy are beginning to appear under successor El Vasco. The young striker is quickly consolidating as a top talent for the future with his strong running and impressive eye for goal. 

Calleri forms one third of a forward trident that is completed by strong ex-Banfield man Andres Chavez and Federico Carrizo, all of whom are under 24-years-old. The ex-All Boys kid may still be a raw talent, but he is improving rapidly in the Bombonera pressure cooker and is one to watch in the coming years. 

At 29-years-old, Uruguayan midfielder Carlos Sanchez is hardly a hot talent for the future. But the way the River man has reinvented himself under the supervision of Marcelo Gallardo has made him one of the most dangerous players in the Primera Division, and someone Boca will have to stop if they wish to take the Superclasico honours. 

Marginalised under Ramon Diaz, Sanchez has burst back into the fold as a box-to-box midfielder, pressuring across the pitch and covering the distance in Gallardo's demanding high-press system. Three goals in nine games so far shows that the Uruguayan is more than capable of finding the net too. 

Boca Juniors star Fernando Gago may only be 28-years-old, but he has come a long way since debuting for the Xeneize back in 2004 while still a teenager. The creative midfielder has played in Spain and Italy and also taken in a World Cup; and on Sunday he will lead Boca out as captain. 

Injuries have been a constant frustration for the star, but now fully-fit, Gago has begun to show his true form. He is the more creative half of Boca's midfield axis alongside Meli, looking to play the ball out to the side's rapid forwards and get the Argentine giants moving towards the net. 

There are two constants in the career of River's explosive striker Teofilo Gutierrez. The ex-Junior and Racing Club star has never had trouble finding either the back of the net, or finding himself embroiled in the latest controversy. 

Thankfully this season, Marcelo Gallardo has enjoyed only the former part of the Colombian's personality. Teo has carried on from an encouraging World Cup campaign to show a fantastic level of form for the Millonario, leading the Primera Division scoring charts with eight goals in as many games this season. 

The forward's movement, aggression and deadly accuracy in front of goal makes him Argentina's most dangerous No. 9 right now, and his partnership with Uruguayan Rodrigo Mora is one of the main reasons why River find themselves sitting pretty at the top of the table.