Enzo Pérez may bid farewell to River fans at the Monumental | OneFootball

At a crucial moment in what has been a difficult year for River, Enzo Pérez could return to the starting lineup this Sunday against Gimnasia. This would not only bring a new dynamic to the midfield, but also the possibility that the captain could play what might be his last match at the Monumental. The same situation, although from the bench, could be experienced by Ignacio Fernández, Milton Casco, and Gonzalo Martínez.

The 39-year-old from Mendoza has already recovered from the cut he suffered on his knee against Palmeiras in Brazil, and given the importance of the clash against El Lobo, Marcelo Gallardo might give him back his spot among the starting eleven. It remains to be seen whether he will pair him with Juan Carlos Portillo and opt to accompany them with more offensive midfielders, or if he will pack the midfield with those two plus Kevin Castaño to achieve more balance.

Whatever Muñeco’s final decision may be, the truth is that, given River’s position in Group B of the Torneo Clausura, there is a real chance that this could be Enzo Pérez’s last opportunity to play at the Monumental. Even if they become champions, since the Millonario is currently fifth in Group B, four points behind Vélez, they could have to play all the knockout rounds up to the final as visitors.

He is not the only one of the Madrid heroes who could be saying goodbye to Núñez. In that unforgettable 2018 Copa Libertadores won against Boca at the Santiago Bernabéu, Casco, Nacho Fernández, and Pity Martínez were also present, although all three would be among the substitutes. Like Enzo, all of them would end their cycle at River at the end of the year.

No one at River wants this to be the last photo of these four symbols of Gallardo’s golden era. With nine points still up for grabs (Gimnasia, Boca, and Vélez), River has a chance to climb the table and secure a home advantage in a knockout round, but there is no room for error. In any case, the focus right now is on collecting as many points as possible to qualify for the next Copa Libertadores through the annual table.

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