Gallardo and River await Acuña, rested by the national team as a precaution | OneFootball

River's practice this Thursday will feature the return of players called up to their national teams, except for Matías Galarza, who will return a day later due to the long journey from South Korea. The focus will be on Marcos Acuña, who did not play a single minute during Argentina's tour due to a physical discomfort.

The "Huevo" was substituted at halftime during the defeat against Rosario Central after suffering a blow to one of his knees from a hard foul that went unpunished. Lionel Scaloni's call-up was already confirmed, and the left-back traveled despite not being 100% physically fit.

Against Venezuela, Nicolás Tagliafico played as the '3', and in the rout over Puerto Rico, Nicolás González took the position. Acuña returned to the national team for the last double date of the South American Qualifiers after being out since the end of 2024, but he didn't get any playing time then or now.

This time, the decision was due to him arriving in the United States with the knee discomfort from that blow in Rosario. Not wanting to risk him, Scaloni chose to preserve him, but it also raised a question: will he be ready to play against Talleres next Saturday?

The "Huevo" is one of River's most consistent players over the past year, and Gallardo will wait for him until the last moment. He will do so not only because of his quality but also because Milton Casco's recent performances have been well below expectations.

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