Gallardo’s picks to replace Galoppo at River: what each brings to the table | OneFootball

Just one day before the crucial clash against Palmeiras at the Monumental, for the first leg of the Copa Libertadores quarterfinals, Marcelo Gallardo must decide who will replace Giuliano Galoppo, who is suspended after being sent off against Libertad. So, what are Muñeco’s options?

The number one candidate is Kevin Castaño. The Colombian midfielder played the second half of last Saturday’s 2-1 victory over Estudiantes, to get some playing time ahead of the first leg of the Libertadores quarterfinals. The former Krasnodar player has similar characteristics to the ex-Banfield man, as he can contribute to the team’s play, but also bring some grit and defensive work to River’s midfield.

It’s worth remembering that the 24-year-old had established himself as a starter until the first leg against Libertad in Asunción, where Muñeco took him off at halftime. Although he lost ground in the coach’s plans, he never stopped getting minutes and now has a new opportunity to earn back his spot in a high-stakes match.

After Castaño, another option is Juan Portillo. The former Talleres player would provide much more ball recovery in the middle of the pitch, as he could play as a number five alongside Enzo Pérez, with a line of five behind them featuring Lucas Martínez Quarta, Paulo Díaz, and Lautaro Rivero as center-backs. However, this seems like a very defensive approach for a Gallardo team, especially considering they are playing at home and need a good result to approach the return leg at Allianz Parque with more peace of mind.

Now, if Muñeco wants to give the starting eleven a more attacking profile on Wednesday, he has several names to choose from. One of them is Matías Galarza, who recently scored a stunning goal for his Paraguay national team during the last FIFA break and played the second 45 minutes of the win in La Plata. While he is a box-to-box midfielder, he stands out for his commitment, physical strength, and long-range shooting. However, he has yet to deliver convincing performances for River, which is why he has been relegated to the bench.

Another alternative is to put Muñeco’s favorite on the field: Juanfer Quintero. The 32-year-old Colombian is synonymous with class and guarantees a wide range of attacking options: playmaking, dribbling, through balls, set pieces, and long-range shots. But his weakness is his almost nonexistent contribution to ball recovery, plus it’s unlikely he can maintain a high level for the full 90 minutes.

Finally, there’s Santiago Lencina. The 19-year-old from Chaco has been considered by Gallardo on several occasions this semester and has responded with three goals and good performances. Aside from the usual ups and downs of any young player, his presence would bring River speed, grit, freshness, and above all, goals from midfield.

The truth is, the match against Verdao is just around the corner and, among the range of options available, Gallardo will have to choose the best one to replace Galoppo. Although Castaño seems to be leading the race to return to the starting lineup, it’s well known that Muñeco likes to surprise his opponents in these kinds of matches, so no possibility should be ruled out.

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