Armani, Acuña out vs Peñarol, doubts for River’s Apertura opener | OneFootball

River adds concerns in the midst of preseason. Just days before the last friendly in Uruguay, Marcelo Gallardo already knows he won’t be able to count on either Marcos Acuña or Franco Armani this Saturday against Peñarol, and both are now serious doubts for the debut in the Torneo Apertura against Barracas Central.

Acuña’s case is the one that has been open the longest. The trauma to the big toe on his left foot has prevented him from training normally, both in San Martín de los Andes and in Punta del Este, and it kept him out of the friendly against Millonarios. The discomfort persists and requires daily management of his workload.

The left-back is doing physical work and ball exercises, but avoids full impact and contact. As long as the area remains swollen and painful, the coaching staff will not rush his return. His recovery is progressing well, although the calendar is starting to work against him.

With the official debut drawing closer, the question is no longer about the match with Peñarol in Maldonado, but about Barracas. Gallardo knows that if Acuña doesn’t make it, he’ll have alternatives: Matías Viña has gained minutes and left a good impression, while Facundo González and Juan Portillo appear as emergency options.

Meanwhile, Armani’s situation is also raising alarms. The goalkeeper suffered a muscle tear in his right calf during training in the South and continues his recovery in Punta del Este. In recent hours, he’s been seen jogging, but his presence in the debut is still uncertain.

At 39 years old, the legendary goalkeeper is going through a crucial tune-up in what could be his last year at the club. The margin is minimal and, if he’s not in optimal condition, the coaching staff won’t take unnecessary risks.

In the meantime, the goal has a temporary owner. Santiago Beltrán was chosen against Millonarios and once again kept a clean sheet. All signs point to him repeating against Peñarol and, if Armani doesn’t recover in time, also guarding River’s goal in the Apertura opener.

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