River Plate

There has been yet another twist in the Copa Libertadores final saga, as River Plate have announced they will not travel to Madrid to face rivals Boca Juniors at the Santiago Bernabeu in the second leg.

As reported by Nicholas Mendola of NBC Sports, River Plate slammed the Argentinian football association in a press release for moving the fixture abroad: "The Argentine Football Association (AFA) can not and should not allow a handful of violent ones to impede the development of the Superclasico in our country."

The match was scheduled to be played at River Plate's Monumental stadium on November 24 but was postponed and then suspended after several Boca players were injured on the team bus during violence ahead of the game. Injuries were caused by smashed windows, while tear gas also made its way into the vehicle, with players "appearing groggy and disorientated," per the Independent.

On Thursday, South American football governing body CONMEBOL announced the contest had been rescheduled for December 9 and moved to Europe.

That decision was widely criticised by the likes of Rob Harris of the Associated Press:

Paris Saint-Germain's Dani Alves also voiced his criticism, per sportswriter Juan G. Arango:

According to Mendola, River Plate argued the move "distorts the competition" and affect their chances of winning. Boca Juniors hosted the first leg, which finished 2-2.

Per Argentinian football expert Peter Coates, the club stated the security issues that allowed the assault on the team bus to happen were not their responsibility:

The Copa Libertadores champion is scheduled to take part in the FIFA Club World Cup, which kicks off on December 12.

Boca Juniors' Copa Libertadores round-of-16 clash with River Plate was suspended after players of the latter club appeared to be sprayed with an irritant upon entering the pitch after half-time. As a result of the incident, Boca Juniors has been expelled from the tournament.

Continue for updates.

Boca Juniors Expelled from Copa Libertadores

Saturday, May 16

ESPN FC reported that "Boca Juniors have been expelled from this year's Copa Libertadores, will play four games behind closed doors."

On May 15, the Associated Press (h/t Fox Soccer) highlighted an individual "sliding a hand through the flexible tunnel that shields players entering the field." He was allegedly then seen "spraying some kind of irritant" which affected the River players' eyes. Such an incident is the latest in a long line of problems for Argentinian football.

Fox Soccer tweeted images from La Bombonera, Boca's stadium:

The second-leg match remained 0-0, with River leading 1-0 on aggregate after the opening tie. Police and players were stationed on the pitch for an hour before the encounter was eventually abandoned, as reported by Fox Soccer.

A video of the situation has appeared on YouTube:

"I can't see, I can't see. I am burning. This is not a war!" said River defender Ramiro Funes Mori after coming into contact with the irritant, as reported by BBC Sport.

"My whole body hurts," said River's Leonardo Ponzio, as reported by ESPN FC. "They threw, I'm not sure what it was, pepper spray at us. This just can't be."

River coach Marcelo Gallardo reacted by saying: "It's sad. It's unbelievable what happened," per Fox Soccer.

Boca president Daniel Angelici confirmed the club "will do all we can to help police," per BBC Sport. He also admitted the club would "accept responsibility" before saying this is "society's problem, not football's problem."

The club's rivalry with River ranks among the most hostile in sport. Both sides were formed in Buenos Aires, but River are known as the "millionaires" after "moving to the affluent Nunez neighbourhood," as reported by BBC Sport. Many of Boca's fans stem from the local Italian immigrant community, making Los Xeneizes known as "the people's team," per BBC Sport.

In May 2013, Rex Gowar of Reuters (h/t the Daily Mail), reported news of crowd violence during the same fixture. "Small bombs" were allegedly thrown onto the pitch, but the match was not abandoned.

According to the NGO Save Football group, more than 70 people have been killed at Argentinian matches since the turn of the century, as reported by Ignacio de los Reyes of BBC News.

Although there's no reports of lasting damage after this latest incident, ESPN FC's report confirms no date has been given to complete the fixture. If the result is still to be played for, it's perhaps best to do so behind closed doors.

Taking season in the peculiar Argentine sense of one six-month period, River Plate's campaign in the second half of 2014 has been extraordinarily punishing. As well as pushing for the Transicion title right up to the last match, the Millonario have added another 10 games to their schedule with a run to the Copa Sudamericana final. 

New coach Marcelo Gallardo has done wonders to keep a tiny squad pushing forward, even with the liberal use of reserves and youngsters in some clashes. But the physical wear and tear has been evident all the same, as a team that lit up Argentina and South America in the opening months of the season with a high-pressing, attacking football has struggled to maintain their tempo. 

Even as rivals Racing Club overtook them domestically, however, River have never lost touch. And while a two-point deficit going into the Transicion decider may be a bridge too far, the Nunez giants are undoubtedly in pole position for continental honours after a battling Sudamericana draw with Atletico Nacional. 

The final's first leg was played in incredibly hostile conditions for Gallardo's men. Just one day after keeping their hopes alive in the league with a 3-2 thriller over Banfield, River were on the long plane to Medellin to take on Colombian giants Nacional. The Atanasio Girardot was packed to burst with green-and-white-decked fans, with just a few hundred diehards representing the visitors. 

With a squad containing the talents of veteran striker Juan Pablo Angel, the brilliant playmaking prospect Edwin Cardona and former Velez youngster Jonathan Copete, Nacional were out to win. This they proved in a whirlwind of first-half activity. River had to dig deep, as they have done throughout the season, as the Colombians played them off the park in the opening 45 minutes. 

Finally Orlando Berrio used his immense pace to leave the Millonario standing, and his shot beat Marcelo Barovero in the 35th minute to put the hosts up 1-0. It appeared that the marathon of fixtures had finally caught up with River, who could not keep up with their fresher, apparently more motivated rivals. 

But River have not made it to the defining stages of two major competitions by luck. Once more Gallardo showed that if his team cannot prosper playing the high-octane game so effective this year, they can still pull through using the underestimated attributes of massive heart and determination. 

The Argentines came out a different team after the break; as did, admittedly, Nacional, who suffered an inexplicable drop in form following that devastating start. They still had to ride their luck, seeing the Colombians smash against the bar with a shot that, had it entered, would have sent the tie slipping away from the away team. But River hit back with an equaliser worthy of a cup final. 

Leonardo Pisculichi, the ex-Argentinos Juniors man signed in a big gamble to replace promising playmaker Manuel Lanzini, let loose with a venomous shot that defeated Franco Armani in the Nacional net, converting the Millo's first real chance of the match. It was a special moment, bringing the club back on level terms and leaving the second leg wide open. 

Next Wednesday, River and Nacional will meet again in the second leg held at Buenos Aires' famous Monumental stadium. It will be a different story. Gallardo's men will have the advantage of a whole week's rest, after the Argentine FA acceded to their request to postpone the final round of league fixtures. Having played badly in a hostile environment with all odds against them and still taken a result, it is hard to see past River as the eventual Sudamericana victors. 

But perhaps the best sign for the Millonario came in the last 15 minutes of play. The brilliant young defensive midfielder Matias Kranevitter was sent on after three months out to replace goalscorer Pisculichi, completing his recovery following a metatarsal break. The 21-year-old was key to the best River performances this year; before his injury, River had won six consecutive matches. 

Now the Tucuman native is back in the team, that all-action, possession-based style becomes much easier to implement. Kranevitter was the heart of River's finest play this year, and it is difficult to describe just how much of a boost his return represents. 

It will not be easy, of course. Nacional are packed with talent, and if they can score early in the Monumental, River will be under immense pressure in front of their own fans. But the late goal from Pisculichi in Medellin was priceless. The draw in the Atanasio Girardot gave River one hand on the Copa Sudamericana, now it is up to them to put in one more heroic performance and prove they are truly one of the best teams currently on the continent. 

After legendary coach Ramon Diaz walked out on Primera Division champions River Plate, there were concerns over the club's future. Luckily for Millonario fans, however, the man who followed El Pelado into the hot seat has taken to management like a duck to water. 

Former playing icon at the Monumental Marcelo Gallardo promised great things during a short spell on the bench at Uruguayan side Nacional. But in just a short time with River, the coach has shown his aptitude, forming a dynamic, exhilarating team that has swept aside allcomers so far. 

It is not hyperbole to suggest that Gallardo's River is one of the best local teams since the 2006 vintage Boca Juniors, fired by striking duo Martin Palermo and Rodrigo Palacio. With five wins in six, the Millonario occupy the summit of the Transicion championship, even having played one game fewer than their nearest challengers. 

Speaking to delighted fans, the phrase "Barcelona of Nunez" has even been heard, in a self-deprecating but partially justified evaluation of a side that presses hard, holds on to the ball and attacks with Exocet precision. 

At the heart of all this, moreover, is one of the hottest midfield talents Argentina has seen in recent years. Javier Mascherano remains a favourite around the Monumental for his performances as a youngster, but in Matias Kranevitter, the Barcelona titan may have a long-term successor in the Albiceleste engine room. 

The 21-year-old, born in the north-western province of Tucuman, was used as a rotation player by Diaz behind the likes of Leonardo Ponzio and Cristian Ledesma. But when Gallardo assumed command, he was thrown into a starting role. The results, to put it simply, have been spectacular. 

The youngster is no stranger to hard work. One of six brothers and sisters in the town of Yerba Buena, an area of Tucuman marked by ostentatious affluence sitting side-by-side with harrowing poverty, Kranevitter entered the workplace as a caddy on a local golf course at the age of 12, to put food on the table. 

Just like so many of his peers in Argentina, forging their characters far away from pristine football academies and sheltered environments, that sacrifice and commitment to succeed flows out of him when he takes the pitch. 

Kranevitter harries, unsettles, unbalances and hits hard in the middle of the pitch. He is the model of an Argentina No. 5, the defensive midfielder who shields the defence but also has the responsibility to carry play forward on the ground. Just like Mascherano, his distribution is rarely spectacular, but he almost never fails to find his target, pushing River back up the pitch. 

Even Ponzio, the man pushed out of the River first-team in favour of the kid affectionately known as Tucu, finds it impossible to hold a grudge.

The ex-Espanyol star labelled his team-mate the best No. 5 in Argentina during an interview with Ole (in Spanish), and it is hard to argue with him. He is not afraid to get involved in the dirty work, but precision is the key to his game, jumping in to pick up the ball and move it along with almost surgical timing and accuracy. 

Could Kranevitter be the man to succeed Mascherano as Argentina's midfield dynamo? There are unavoidable similarities between the pair, as well as a certain coherence to the timeline. In Russia 2018, Mascherano will be 34 years old while the current River star will have just celebrated his 25th birthday, ready to take on the world in his prime. 

Predictions are always dangerous. The next step for Kranevitter will undoubtedly be a trip across the Atlantic Ocean to a European club, something that has proved too much for all too many Argentinian youngsters tagged as future greats while in the Primera Division. But it is impossible not to get excited about River's new wonderkid. 

Mascherano cemented his place in Argentinian folklore with a frankly heroic effort in every single World Cup clash. Four years down the line, his successor at River and maybe the Albiceleste could be winning the same plaudits as Argentina look to go one step further and end their long wait for a third World Cup. 

Just a little over a week ago, fans of Argentina’s most successful team, Club Atletico River Plate, were ashamed when the Asocasion del Futbol Argentino’s decided to merge the top flight with the second division to form a new 38-team tournament for the 2012-2013 season.

The move would have meant that River would have returned to the first division without earning their promotion, making the club’s campaign in the Nacional B irrelevant as long as they finished in the top 16 to avoid relegation.

The new tournament would have also ensured insults and songs from fans of other Buenos Aires giants aimed at River for necessitating the change of formats. The plan would have meant that River would be the last of the “Big Five” (Boca Juniors, Independiente, Racing, River, and San Lorenzo) to play at a level beneath the top division.

Now, a little over a week later, AFA President Julio Grondona has retracted his plan to implement the ludicrous new format for the top flight. to the joy of all fans of Argentine futbol, the president announced Argentina would retain the old 20-team first and second divisions.

River fans were initially relieved that their club could now earn its way back to the top flight, where it belongs. Fans then had to accept the difficult reality that actually earning a promotion to the first division will be a grueling task for the Nuñez giants.

Although Argentina’s first division has its share of teams that require long trips to get to and play on small pitches (such as Olimpo’s ground in the southern city of Bahia Blanca) the Nacional B is a whole new monster. In the 2010-2011 season, 14 of the Primera A’s teams were from the greater Buenos Aires area, while a further two more were from La Plata, only about 60 kilometers from the nation’s capital.

In the Nacional B, River will travel all over Argentina, facing six teams that the 33-time Primera A champions have never faced before, including Guillermo Brown from Puerto Madryn in Patagonia’s Chubut Province. The prospect of playing Boca Unidos from Entre Rios will be certain to lead to jeers from Boca Juniors fans, while a trip to Deportivo Merlo will see River play in a stadium with a capacity of just over 7,000.

Although it was certain that there would be new faces, River will also face plenty of clubs with a first division pedigree, including former champions Chacarita Juniors, Rosario Central, Quilmes, Huracan, and Ferro. In the Nacional B, River will face another former top-flight mainstay, Gimnasia de La Plata, winner of the Copa Centenario of 1994, and so called “yo-yo” clubs Atletico Tucuman, San Martin de Tucuman, and Gimnasia de Jujuy.

Every opponent will be trying to knock River off and prevent the 2-time Copa Libertadores winners from returning to the top flight. Unlike in the first division, River’s fans will not be able to accompany the team to away matches (due to safety reasons), making the team feel even more isolated on the road.

Long travel, small pitches, hostile crowds, and unfamiliar foes will all make River’s life in the second division uncomfortable, but in the end, the Nacional B is still football. Even if the play is more physical or less technical than Argentina’s top flight, the top two teams will still qualify for the Primera A, while the third and fourth placed sides will play in the Promocion play-off against teams from the first division. The question is, does River have enough of a team to finish in the top four in what will be an ultra-competitive division?

The first answer that comes to mind is a resounding “yes.” After all, River finished tied for fifth in aggregate standings for the 2010-2011 season, and would have qualified for the Copa Sudamericana had it managed to avoid the promocion playoff. On second thought, however, the River squad has plenty of flaws.

Two high-profile signings in Fernando Cavenaghi and Alejandro “el Chori” Dominguez should spark a lackluster offense that managed just 15 goals in 19 games during the 2011 Clausura. Both Cavenaghi and Dominguez have been crowned first division champions with River (Cavenaghi on three occasions, Dominguez twice) and are strongly committed to the club, as seen by their decisions to give up millions of dollars in order to return to the club they supported as fans.

During his time in Europe, Dominguez won two Russian Premier League titles, a UEFA Cup, and a UEFA Supercup (which happened to come against Manchester United). In 2009, the former Quilmes man was named Russian Footballer of the Year.

Cavenaghi’s time in Europe saw both highs and lows. After a less-than-stellar time in Russia with Spartak, “el Torito” moved to Bordeaux, where he scored 22 goals in 2007-2008, and 15 in 2008-2009, helping his club win Ligue 1.

Now, both are back at River, but there are serious questions about the supporting cast and coaching staff.

New coach Matias Almeyda was a brilliant player in his time. A Copa Libertadores champion with River in 1996, “el Pelado” twice represented Argentina in World Cups and had a successful spell in Europe with such clubs as Sevilla, Inter, and Lazio. After returning to River as a player after a premature retirement in 2009, Almeyda rekindled his love affair with the fans and was one of the few bright spots as the team fell from the first division for the first time in its history. Surprisingly, under-fire club President Daniel Passarella, who won three titles as a coach and seven more as a player with River, opted for Almeyda to lead “the Millionaires” back to the top flight rather than a coach with experience.

The squad of players itself is also far from below the usual River Plate standard. New signing Carlos Sanchez from Godoy Cruz was one of the best players for the Mendoza side over the past few seasons, especially in the 2011 Clausura and Copa Libertadores, where he scored the club’s first-ever goal in South America’s version of the Champions League, and while he should be a bright spot on the right flank, the team still lack depth in the rest of the midfield.

Youngster Ezequiel Cirigliano is tentatively penciled in as the team's first-choice holding midfielder, but he's currently on international duty with Argentina at the Under 20 World Cup. Cirigliano's replacement in recent friendlies has been another youth product, Santiago Gallucci Otero. Whoever wins this spot is talented, but will be inexperienced and could find it tough to battle in the middle of the park against stronger, more seasoned players.

The left side of the midfield is being fought over between new signing Martin Aguirre, a journeyman midfielder who has never settled in at one club, and Roberto Pereyra. Pereyra is also with Argentina in Colombia for the U-20 World Cup, and although he's a superb prospect and talent, the 20 year old has been very inconsistent in his short career. In 45 games, “el Tucu” has yet to score a goal, and has only handed out a few assists. Paraguay international Marcelo Estigarribia has been rumored as a possible acquisition, and although the player is interested, any move to River won't happen easily.

Defensively, Juan Pablo Carrizo is gone in goal, and will be replaced by either Daniel Vega or Leandro Chichizola, both of whom are more than capable players. Unfortunately, in front of goal there are serious questions about the central defense. The team's best defender last season, Jonatan Maidana, has been linked with a move to France, and with his departure, River would be severely weakened. Paraguayan Adalberto Roman started his career at River promisingly, but shaky performances down the stretch and an infantile handball that led to a penalty against Belgrano in the Promocion could damage his confidence.

Argentina Under-20 World Cup captain German Pezzella is an outstanding player, but rumors are circulating that a fight between his agent and Passarella could see him sent out on loan, a fate which could also await his national team partner Leandro Gonzelez Pirez, who stood in for Pezzella in the few games he played last season for River.

Up front, Dominguez will act as the playmaker and will be asked to provide the bullets for Cavenaghi. However, problems could arise with Cavenaghi’s partner. Almeyda has been experimenting with Gabriel Funes Mori, once considered a top prospect, but Mori has since fallen on hard times.

The 20-year-old has not scored a goal in a competitive match since round six of the 2010 Apertura when he nodded home Ariel Ortega’s corner against Arsenal. In total, Funes Mori has just 9 goals in 45 games for La Banda. Another possible candidate is Daniel Villalva, the youngest player to ever debut for River when he did so at just 16 years, seven months, and two days in February 2009. Unfortunately, Villalva’s career has been injury-plagued, and it's unknown how well his body will stand up to the physical Nacional B.

Clearly, River’s team is nowhere near the standard the club and its fans are used to. Only three years ago, River were celebrating the 2008 Clausura title, and had the likes of Radamel Falcao and recent Barcelona signing Alexis Sanchez among their ranks. This River team may be a step more talented than the opposition in the Nacional B, but there is a fear growing amongst the fans that there could be too much pressure heaped on Dominguez and Cavenaghi to create goals. Unless more reinforcements are brought in, it's difficult to say where else the goals will come from.

River Plate is about to embark on arguably its most difficult campaign in history. The most important thing the team needs to do to ensure success will be to start strong. A few losses or draws to start the campaign will heap up the pressure on Passarella, Almeyda, and the players, while River fans will begin to fear the only thing more unthinkable than River playing in the Nacional B: a second season outside of the Primera.

Not just a footballing team, but a religion for many, River Plate has fallen after 110 years to the second division, and has left fans furious and in total disbelief.

The last time the club played in the second tier of Argentine football known as the Nacional B was in 1908. Since then they have been key members of the Premier division, and since winning their first title in 1932 they have become amongst the most successful league club in the world with 33* (National) League titles.

Fans have gone on a rampage as they look toward violence since the club was relegated, with many starting fires and others clashing with police during mass rioting in the city.

Onlookers relate certain parts of the city to that of a "war-zone" with smoke and fires raging, shop windows smashed and police forcing angry hooligans away.

According to some reports, the stadium was too full with almost 20,000 more fans than the prescribed amount, an investigation is underway in these allegations, as many fans were injured during the in-stadium protests.

River needed to overcome a first leg 2-0 deficit, but finishing 1-1 in the second leg of the relegation playoffs meant the former Argentinian champions had to bow down to Premier division football.

Looking at the past, the successes of the club, it very tough to understand how they found themselves in a relegation battle in the first place.

River Plate has a long list of well-known players not just in Argentina but across the globe.

A few notable players:

Gabriel Batistuta
Ariel Ortega
Hernan Crespo
Roberto Ayala
Pablo Aimar
Esteban Cambiasso
Martin Demichelis
Javier Mascherano
Gonzalo Higuain
Alexis Sanchez  (amongst the most highly-rated teenagers currently in world football)

One of the most notable of player was former European Player of the Year Alfredo Di Stefano, who played and managed the club.

River Plate is already in financial difficulty and the results of a poor league season will only worsen the financial wounds. 

However they will have to accept their fate and look to rebuild the squad, and attempt a quick recovery and return to the Primeira Division.

*River Plate did win the 1920 title, but it was still during the Amateur Era