Driussi’s replacement and two doubts, what Coudet must decide at River | OneFootball

Among the most tangible consequences left by last Sunday’s painful defeat to Boca, the most urgent is the need to replace the best player from the last few matches: Sebastián Driussi. The striker’s confirmed muscle tear forces Eduardo Coudet to look for a different option, since he has no other forward with his characteristics. He will also have to decide whether to continue backing two players who have underperformed: Lautaro Rivero and Kendry Páez.

As soon as River’s No. 9 signaled to the bench, before 15 minutes had been played in the first half of the Superclásico, Chacho sent Maximiliano Salas out to warm up. A substitute since the coach’s arrival, he has qualities opposite to those Coudet had been looking for even in the middle of the attack. With less ball control and less ability to combine, the former Racing player needs space to make the most of his power. Even so, he is currently the favorite to start this Saturday against Aldosivi.

The other alternative is Joaquín Freitas, a more versatile attacker but one Coudet sees as having more difficulty holding the ball up with his back to goal under opposing pressure. The youngster who came through at Acassuso has power and speed, but struggles to make a real impact in the box and to serve as a reference point to pin back opposing center-backs, something essential in Coudet’s systems. Further back in the pecking order is Agustín Ruberto, who would return to the squad list, though only to be among the substitutes.

Beyond this one forced change, the Superclásico exposed Lautaro Rivero’s poor level in defense and the lack of leadership in a team that watched the minutes slip through its fingers without showing even the slightest spark of defiance. Because of this, the second center-back came under scrutiny for several very specific mistakes that did not lead to opposition goals only because of Miguel Merentiel’s poor finishing, but which were part of a forgettable afternoon.

Although the 22-year-old defender would remain a starter for now, it would not be surprising if Germán Pezzella appeared for the trip to face Bragantino in Brazil. At 34 and just back from ligament surgery, the world champion could be the leader the team is missing, and the coach believes that with continuity he could recover the level that once made him a regular with the Argentina national team.

The other doubt left by the loss to Boca was at attacking midfielder. Kendry Páez started and mixed good and bad moments until he was replaced by Freitas himself 12 minutes into the second half. Since Chacho took over, that position had belonged to Ian Subiabre, who was on the bench on Sunday for the first time under this coach. Having performed at a low level so far, the Comodoro Rivadavia native is now trailing in the race to be in the starting XI.

With these alternatives in mind, the team Coudet could field against Aldosivi would be: Santiago Beltrán; Gonzalo Montiel, Lucas Martínez Quarta, Lautaro Rivero, Marcos Acuña; Juan Cruz Meza, Aníbal Moreno, Tomás Galván, Kendry Páez or Ian Subiabre; Facundo Colidio and Maximiliano Salas.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.