Gallardo backs River core that knocked Racing out of Copa Argentina | OneFootball

This Monday in Avellaneda, River is playing for what little is left of its year against Racing. And for this crucial round of 16 match, Marcelo Gallardo is clinging to the last time his team rose to the occasion: against the same rival, in the quarterfinals of the Copa Argentina. That’s why he will repeat much of the starting eleven, with the additions of Enzo Pérez and Sebastián Driussi, who were injured at that time.

That 1-0 victory over La Academia at the Gigante de Arroyito was, up to now, the last joy for Millonario fans in 2025. Despite coming off an elimination by Palmeiras and four consecutive defeats, few imagined that after advancing to the semifinals, everything would spiral down to this present moment, which finds the team at its lowest footballing point in over a decade.

Without brilliance, but with a lot of effort, that River left a good impression. In a scrappy match with little play, the team led by El Muñeco managed to prevail in a physical battle—the kind they struggled with throughout almost the entire rest of the year. That’s why the coach wants to return to that afternoon in Rosario.

The difference is that this Monday, Enzo Pérez and Driussi will be available. The captain missed several matches even when he was already fit to play, but he returned against Vélez and proved to be the soul of the team. The question is who he will replace: whether it will be Kevin Castaño, recently back after his stint with the Colombia National Team, or Juan Carlos Portillo, who has filled the Mendoza native’s spot since the series against Palmeiras.

Driussi’s situation is different. Whenever he’s been physically fit, he has started. He even reached a very high level before his ankle injury at the Club World Cup. Unfortunately, that severe sprain and a series of muscle tears and discomforts left him without continuity, and he arrives at these round of 16 matches far from his ideal form.

Even so, this Monday he will start in place of Facundo Colidio, who is in the final stage of recovering from a hamstring tear and who, in that 1-0 win over Racing, was decisive with his assist to Maximiliano Salas.

River’s probable lineup to face Racing Franco Armani; Gonzalo Montiel, Lucas Martínez Quarta, Lautaro Rivero, Marcos Acuña; Giuliano Galoppo, Enzo Pérez, Kevin Castaño or Juan Carlos Portillo; Juan Fernando Quintero; Sebastián Driussi and Maximiliano Salas.

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