River is preparing for its debut in the Copa Argentina against Ciudad de Bolívar, this Wednesday night at the Estadio Único Madre de Ciudades in Santiago del Estero, with a reduced squad. Among the numerous absences due to injuries and players drafted to their national teams, Marcelo Gallardo will have to face the match with 10 absences, some more significant than others.
Regarding the players drafted by the Argentina National Team for the matches against Brazil and Uruguay, Germán Pezzella and Gonzalo Montiel were summoned, although Cachete won't be available due to the tear in his left calf suffered against Deportivo Riestra. This situation further complicates Gallardo's plans, not only because of the player's importance in his scheme but also due to the limited options in the central defense after Lucas Martínez Quarta's tear and Paulo Díaz's draft with Chile.
Múltiples bajas en la defensa de River
Thus, the only alternatives in the central defense, not counting the Reserve players, are Federico Gattoni and Leandro González Pirez, both with little or no playtime. For the full-back, the options would be Fabricio Bustos or Milton Casco, who has already played that role although he feels more comfortable on the right wing.
In the midfield, Giuliano Galoppo, affected by a strain in the sartorius muscle, and Matías Rojas, with a grade one strain in the hamstring of his left leg, are not yet in full physical condition and won't travel with the squad. Additionally, Kevin Castaño, recently purchased from Krasnodar for 13.8 million dollars, will join the Colombia National Team to play the matches against Brazil and Paraguay.
Las bajas en el mediocampo del Millonario
As if this weren't enough, Facundo Colidio, who also got injured (right adductor) in the last match against Malevo, and Sebastián Driussi, who suffers from a tear in the left hamstring, will both have to wait a few more days to be cleared and reintegrate. Beyond this, they are expected to be available for the weekend of March 29 and 30, once the double date of the World Cup Qualifiers for the United States, Mexico, and Canada 2026 is over.
Another forward who is out is Agustín Ruberto, who had an anterior cruciate ligament rupture in his left knee during the South American U-20, and will be out for 6 to 8 months to recover.
Las bajas de River arriba
Despite so many absences, River received good news: AFA authorized the club to have Franco Mastantuono and Ian Subiabre for one more day, who were drafted to the Argentina U-20 National Team. Since there are no friendlies scheduled and the team will only train for the category's World Cup in May in Chile, both juveniles will be able to play the round of 64 of the Copa Argentina before joining the training camp led by Diego Placente.
River's 10 absences by position for the Copa Argentina
Defenders:
Gonzalo Montiel: tear in the left calf
Germán Pezzella: drafted to the Argentina National Team for the double date of South American Qualifiers.
Lucas Martínez Quarta: tear in the left quadriceps
Paulo Díaz: drafted to the Chile National Team for the double date of South American Qualifiers
Midfielders:
Kevin Castaño: drafted to the Colombia National Team for the double date of South American Qualifiers
Matías Rojas: grade one strain in the hamstring of his left leg
Giuliano Galoppo: strain in the sartorius muscle
Forwards:
Sebastián Driussi: tear in the left hamstring
Facundo Colidio: tear in the right adductor
Agustín Ruberto: anterior cruciate ligament rupture in his left knee (6 to 8 months of recovery)
River's possible starting XI against Ciudad de Bolívar
