Gallardo's doubts at River ahead of trip to Vélez | OneFootball

The narrow victory over Ciudad Bolívar barely allowed River to avoid a historic embarrassment. With little play and an agonizing penalty goal, Marcelo Gallardo was far from gaining breathing room for what lies ahead and was left with the same concerns that have lingered since the defeats against Tigre and Argentinos. Forced to change the image, the "Muñeco" must resolve some doubts in the lineup he will take to Liniers to face Vélez.

The formation will be similar to the one used in almost all the matches of the year (the exception was the visit to Bicho), but there could be some changes. Firstly, there is a real chance that Franco Armani will make his debut in this 2026 after overcoming a tear in one of his calves and an inflammation in the Achilles tendon of the same leg.

The "Pulpo" was injured at the start of the preseason and has not even been part of a squad yet. Nonetheless, the idea is that if he is included, he plays. Everything indicates that he will be in the goal at José Amalfitani, replacing Santiago Beltrán, currently the first substitute – even more so after Ezequiel Centurión's injury.

In the backline, the "Muñeco" would likely keep Paulo Díaz as a starter, who won the position over a declining Lautaro Rivero. The Chilean comes from a match without major issues in the Copa Argentina and his good performance at the Gigante de Arroyito, in contrast to the recent poor performances of the former Central Córdoba player, positions him better to remain among the starters.

Additionally, Marcos Acuña would return as a starter after the fever that prevented him from traveling to San Luis. The "Huevo" is in the process of readjustment after a preseason without action due to a foot injury, and the idea is for him to accumulate more and more minutes to return to his 2025 form. Matías Viña will give up his spot after another lackluster performance; the Uruguayan continues to decline after a promising debut.

With a midfield that would remain unchanged, the other big question is who will form the offensive duo. After a tear in his right hamstring, Sebastián Driussi will complete 21 days of recovery this Sunday, the standard period, and given his recent history, it wouldn't be surprising to see him start from the bench.

Thus, the uncertainty lies in whether Agustín Ruberto (coming off two consecutive starts) will remain in the team or if he will make way for Facundo Colidio. The other forward could once again be Maximiliano Salas, or even the former Tigre player, while Joaquín Freitas – who had a great entry in the Copa Argentina – positions himself as another alternative amid a drought that worries everyone.

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