Advantage River Plate as Gallardo's men see off Boca

River Plate are one step closer to retaining their 2018 Copa Libertadores crown after a solid 2-0 win over arch rivals Boca Juniors at a packed El Monumental.

A VAR awarded penalty in the 7th minute set up Gallardo's men who were rarely troubled by their neighbours from La Boca with a late first half miss from the hapless Capaldo, Boca's best chance to claw something back from a game where they were largely outplayed and outclassed.

A fine seven pass move saw Nacho Fernandez bag the second of the night in the 70th minute and Boca's misery was compounded in the 93rd minute when a VAR check deemed that Capaldo's initial yellow card was in fact worthy of a direct red.

October 23rd will see both sides battle it out for a place in the Santiago final but Alfaro's men will need to offer something special to overcome this well drilled Gallardo-machine.

A deserved win for River who were dominant for the bulk of the game.

That's it. Full time in Nuñez as River win 2-0.

We're in the 98th minute now. 

Off the ref goes to consult the screen. It looks like Capaldo is being shown a red card. Boca down to ten men...not a great night for the Boca 14 who missed a great first half chance for his side.

card colour ?

VAR talking to the ref ....

Capaldo fouls Perez and earns a card which will see him miss the second leg.

So, 2-0 .... is the tie out of Boca's grasp? Alfaro's men will need to deliver a far superior performance with River worthy winners tonight.

Scocco almost makes it 3 as Andrada comes to Boca's rescue yet again.  

We'll have four minutes of added time

Pratto on- Suarez off

River, for the first time tonight looking a little uneasy as Boca push. An away goal would be merit Boca's play.

De la Cruz (possible man of the match) subbed with Alvarez taking his place. 

Yellow for Pinola for a late lunge

Abila breaks but River manage to secure a vital interception as Armani collects. Boca managing isolated attacks on the counter now.  

Boca win a corner ... a goal for the men and blue and yellow would really throw Alfaro's men a lifeline.

River win a free right on the edge of the Boca area as De la Cruz appears poised to hit the dead ball as Suarez forces Andrada to tip over. The flag was up though. 

Scocco almost makes it three as River slice Boca open and the substitute fails to connect cleanly with the header.

Zarate on- MacAllister off for Boca

15' remaining at El Monumental. River well deserving of their 2-0 lead as Armani is forced to tip over from a long range Salvio effort

Suarez goes close with a chip bringing the best in Adrada  

Reynoso off- Salvio on (Boca)

25' left in the first leg and no let up in the intensity levels. River still looking good value with Boca yet to test Armani.

Borre off-Scocco on for River

The game is nicely poised, River will feel they need a second as De la Cruz almost helps his side find that second goal. Boca clear as the ball almost trickles into Andrada's net.

River still in charge possession wise

Approaching the 60' minute mark and limited reaction from Boca following the introduction of Tevez. 

Card for Enzo Perez as the former Valencia man takes out Reynoso. 

River hit the bar. Montiel beats Andrada as his cross-shot almost creeps in.

Tevez on for Soldano

MacAllister finds space but hits his cross high and wide. 

Palacios looks to pull the ball back but it blazes into a sea of blue and yellow shirts. River win another corner as they look to add to their lead. Gallardo will feel his side are worthy of more than a 1-0 lead. Tevez poised to make an entrance for Boca.

The pattern of the game has defaulted to that of the first 45'. River in control as Boca still seem unable to get a foothold in the game.

A distraught Nicolas Capaldo after his late miss at the end of the first half 

Off we go ..River start the proceedings

Colombian Santos Borre celebrates his 7th minute penalty which has River ahead at El Monumental.

David Silva staying up late to watch the game with the City player loving the atmosphere in Buenos Aires ! 

The whistle sounds in Nuñez with Boca Juniors outplayed and outclassed as River lead via an early Santos Borre penalty kick.  

Fernandez carded and is the first River player in the book tonight.

We'll have 2 minutes of added time.

De la Cruz to take, and almost fires it in as Andrada has to tip over. 

River win a free on the edge of the box as Lopez handles. River pushing for another card but the ref. waves the appeals away.

Lopez carded with 3 Boca men on cards. 

Capaldo is through on goal, Abila tees up the youngster who fails to hit the target as he blazes over. Bad, bad miss from the Boca No. 14 

Santos Borres goes close again as Andrada palms wide. Great play from River yet again and where was the Boca defence?

The ball ricochets off the Boca bar as Borre chips right footed....but the flag was up. Uncharacteristically poor defending from the normally water tight Boca rear guard.

Boca win a free as Quatra appears to knee Abila in the back.  

This is so much better than the league game from a month back where both sides served up a stale 0-0 offering.

October 22nd is the date for the return leg of this first semi final. November 25 the (one off) date for the final in Santiago de Chile. 

Another card as Izquierdoz (Boca) is the second name in the book.

MacAllister looking the brightest for Boca with "Wanchope" Abila failing to deliver so far tonight. 

Vamos Vamos River Plate rings out the chant from the home fans. (Actually the only fans with no away supporters permitted)

30' in and River still bossing the game in terms of possession and on the scoreboard too.

The moment when ref. Claus revisits the penalty incident. 

Milton Casco looking very composed for River tonight as Fernandez gets a shot off for River. Boca unable to retain the ball for long, sustained periods. 

De la Cruz clipped on the edge of the Boca box. Ref not convinced as play continues. The match official looking composed and un-phased by the pressure of the occasion.

River Plate looking comfortable as we hit the 20' mark. Will the early goal prompt Alfaro to go for the away goal as Abila breaks but is caught offiside. 

MacAllister has a long range effort and it takes a fine stop from Armani who tips over. Lopez heads over from the resulting corner. 

River fans celebrate their 8th minute goal 

River dominating possession after 15'

Some very robust challenges from both sides as Abila and Casco collide. Ref stops play but both players seem okay to carry on.

Long range effort from Boca but the shot is high and wide.

River looking composed stroking the ball around as Boca are on the back foot.

Mas (Boca) carded 

River take the lead, Borre hitting the ball in the middle as Andrada dives 

Borre to take for River. The 24 year old steps up and scores

Boca Juniors players incensed by the decision but the Brazilian official got it right as Santos Borre was fouled. 

Yes, penalty awarded for River Plate. 

Upon re-viewing it looks that Santos Borre was indeed fouled

VAR being looked at now after a word in the refs ear.

A muted call too from the home fans with the Brazilian referee not swayed by the call. 

A windy Buenos Aires evening with the ball getting blown about as River go close with Andrada coming to Boca's rescue. 

Boca super tight as a defensive unit under Alfaro with just one goal conceded in eight Argentine SuperLiga games this season.  

River in the classic white shirt (red sash), black shorts with Boca in their classic navy and yellow.  

Off we go. Boca get us underway. 

Raphael Claus from Brazil is our match official tonight.  

Big hug from Gallardo and Alfaro as a volley of noise rings out from the home fans. El Monumental is rocking !

Fireworks crack as the sides line up for the traditional pre match photos.

Pleased to report that none of the pre-match shenanigans that tainted the 2018 final have been reported. Kick-off in Buenos Aires just moments away as the sides take to the pitch.

180' to go between these Argentine giants. Boca keen to avenge the Madrid defeat. River to edge closer to Boca's 6 titles.    

The taunting between fans of both clubs is incessant. River fans hold a sign with the Madrid final date and am sure Boca fans will reciprocate with banners of River being relagated to "La B" (2nd division) back in 2011.

River and Boca have faced each other on 249 occasions:

88 wins for Boca / 82 wins for River / 79 draws

Teams warming up as kick-off looms

A temperature currently in the Argentine capital of 15C, ideal conditions for the game  

The president of River Plate, Rodolfo D'Onofrio, is pictured before the all-Argentine Copa Libertadores semi-final first leg football match between River and Boca Juniors at the Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires.

It's now 296 days since River Plate lifted the Copa Libertadores in Madrid ...since then Los Millonarios have seen the likes of Pity Martinez and Maidana leave with more upheaval at Boca with a new coach in Alfaro along with the likes of Barrios, Pavon, Pablo Perez, Benedetto, Nandez etc leaving La Bombonera   

The winners of this all Argentine semi-final will play the winners of the all Brazilian semi-final between Flamengo and Gremio with the first leg taking place in Porto Alegre tomorrow. The final will be a one-off game in Santiago (Chile) on November 25.

Match report from the Sept. 2nd match in the league

Both teams played out a 0-0 draw a few weeks back in the SuperLiga Argentina in a game that was anything but a SuperClasico. What can we expect tonight? Will Alfaro look to try and secure an away goal or will he stick  to his defensive guns?

River fans in the ground with kick-off less than an hour away. 

The cover of Argentina sports daily Olé with the game taking over the front page .... Finally, river get to play Boca at home in the Copa Libertadores in a game with VAR and away goals.  

Gallardo arrives at El Monumental

Boca Jrs. confirmed XI: Andrada; Weigandt, López, Izquierdoz, Mas; Capaldo, Marcone; Soldano, Mac Allister, Reynoso and Ábila.

The River Plate XI has been confirmed:  Armani; Montiel, MQ, Pinola, Casco; Nacho Fernández, Enzo Pérez, Palacios, De La Cruz; Suárez & Borré.

Kick off at El Monumental is at 02:30 (CEST) / 21:30 in Buenos Aires.

Hello and a warm welcome to our live coverage of the first 2019 Copa Libertadores semi-final (first leg) as River Plate face Boca Juniors.