🔥Superclásico: Montiel and Paredes clash over refereeing beforehand | OneFootball

Argentine football comes to a halt this Sunday for a new edition of the Superclásico. However, the clash between River Plate and Boca Juniors in early 2026 has a historic edge: the presence of multiple world champions on both sides. This Friday, Gonzalo Montiel and Leandro Paredes, two of the leading figures of the "Scaloneta," shared a press conference organized by the AFA to build up to the country’s biggest match.

The clash over refereeing

Under the watchful eyes of Juan Román Riquelme and Stefano Di Carlo, both players addressed the controversy surrounding referee Darío Herrera and the condition of the Monumental pitch. Montiel was emphatic in asking for "a little more respect" for the referee, while Paredes downplayed the officiating mistakes, describing them as "unintentional."

As for the grass, both agreed that although it is not in optimal condition, its poor state will affect both teams equally and should not be used as an excuse for the final result.

From sharing glory in Qatar to all-out rivalry

Despite the deep friendship between them after years together with the national team, the players ruled out any kind of bet. "We’ve known each other since we were kids, but on Sunday we’re rivals," Montiel said. Paredes, for his part, highlighted the pleasure of facing former teammates such as Germán Pezzella and Martínez Quarta, although he stressed that his return to Boca was driven by the desire to compete in this kind of setting: "It’s one of the most important matches of our careers," said the Xeneize captain.

The Monumental will be rocking

Paredes said he is arriving at a moment of full maturity and with a Boca side on a positive run, although he lamented the absence of his fans in an away match. By contrast, Montiel highlighted the "adrenaline" of playing in front of his own supporters in a stadium that promises to be boiling. For both, the hunger for glory remains intact: after reaching the summit at the World Cup, the goal now is to impose their class on home turf.

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