River’s attack still misfires despite better play | OneFootball

The start of the 2026 Torneo Apertura shows a River Plate renewed in its structure, but stagnant in its offensive effectiveness. Although Marcelo Gallardo’s team looks much more solid than in 2025 — driven by the balance brought by reinforcements Moreno and Vera, plus the creativity of Quintero, Galván, and the young Kendry Páez — the lack of goals from its forwards has become a statistic that is starting to make people uncomfortable in Núñez.

Gallardo and the defense of the squad: “It’s not about signing just for the sake of it”

After the goalless draw against Rosario Central, the “Muñeco” was blunt when asked about the absence of a new target man in the transfer market. The coach described the demand to sign a “number 9” as a “simplistic opinion” and assured that there are no options in the market that guarantee immediate adaptation to the River world.

“I try to be cautious and watch the evolution of the youngsters. We have a squad to compete and I am convinced that they will give us the solutions,” said the manager, reaffirming his confidence in the players currently at his disposal.

A worrying drought: the attackers’ numbers

Despite the coach’s confidence, the statistical reality is alarming. In the first three rounds of the tournament, River picked up points thanks to its midfielders (Montiel and a brace from Juanfer Quintero), while its main forwards are going through unusually negative streaks:

With Subiabre and Ruberto pushing for a chance from the bench, Gallardo is betting on collective play to break the curse of his strikers. For now, the midfield is keeping the results afloat, but the question about the lack of a true goal scorer remains present in every Millonario appearance.

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