RIVER VS BOCA POLAR OPPOSITES
FourFourTwo is in the neighbourhood of Nunez, and it looks like a military zone. More than 1,400 police officers are patrolling the streets on a sunny Sunday in Buenos Aires, some in uniform and some disguised as civilians. Anti-riot vehicles point their cannons towards the crowd. Drones and helicopters watch on from the sky. Gendarmerie units have been deployed on high-risk access points, and 800 additional stewards are ready to take action. This large-scale operation is for one crowd. The home crowd. Today at the Estadio Monumental, away fans aren’t allowed. But if you think that seems over the top, you don’t know the history of River Plate vs Boca Juniors.
Today’s match is not just another Superclasico. It’s the sequel to one of the most extraordinary episodes in the history of Argentina’s biggest derby – an episode that ended nine months ago with River lifting the Copa Libertadores trophy in Madrid, 6,250 miles from Buenos Aires, as Boca players lay crying on the Santiago Bernabeu pitch.
Boca had led 1-0 deep into the second half that night, only for Lucas Pratto to level before Juan Fernando Quintero’s stunning extra-time strike put River in front. Down to 10 men after Wilmar Barrios’ dismissal, Boca fought back. Goalkeeper Esteban Andrada charged forward for every late corner kick. They hit the post in the 119th minute. Then River broke away and Pity Martinez sealed a fourth Libertadores for his club, making it 3-1 by passing the ball into an empty net, with keeper Andrada still at the other end of the field.
It was the perfect night for a club that had been relegated for the first time in their history in 2011 and heavily derided ever since. That is, until Marcelo Gallardo, also known as ‘Napoleon’, took charge of
