River Plate 1-0 Boca Juniors: El Superclásico summary, score, goals, highlights Argentina Primera Division
River Plate - Boca Juniors: El Superclásico as it happened
Six red cards, eight yellows, a mass brawl that saw the game held up for almost ten minutes and a poor 90 minutes of football is not the advertisement the Argentine LPF were hoping for in what should be the most attractive game of the season.
In the end River secured maximum points in a game that many, (apart from the most ardent River Plate) fans will want to forget. A contest that was low on entertainment and excitement with foul after foul interrupting the flow of the first 45 minutes.
Things improved at the restart as Boca briefly showed what the could do before De la Cruz and Solari went close for the home side. Just when it seemed that the game was heading for a 0-0 stalemate, Solari was clipped in the box by Sandez and referee Herrera pointed to the spot.
Borja sent Romero the wrong way and the ensuing River celebrations led to the brawl that saw riot police and stadium security on the pitch as chaos descended.
Not a great advertisement for the game in Argentina but three points that strengthen River's grip at the top of the table.
All over in Nuñez and River secure the win.
River almost make it 2-0 as Borja fails to latch on to a fine cross.
We're back underway, De la Cruz blazes over.
Boca to play with 8 players, River with ten.
Still no sign of a restart as the referee is still handing out punishments.
2 further minutes to be played.
Valentini is off too.... What a mess
Fernandez is off to for Boca
River subs Centurion and Elias Gomez awarded reds too
River's Palevecino off too
Merentiel is off...straight red
Finally, the players are left on the pitch as the members of River's security leave the pitch along with the police.
No doubt the VAR booth will also be looking back at the incidents with punishment set to be handed out for the guilty players.
The riot police are now on the pitch and these are sad, sad scenes that does nothing to favour Argentine football or El Superclásico.
The ref is talking to his assistants and has just said 'Villa fuera'...
The Colombian seems destined for a red.
Meanwhile, the River fans celebrate.
The referee seems to have regained some control and we may get to see the final two minutes of the game.
Advincula is furious and we've still yet to establish what led to the fights.
It's a full on melee now with security members unable to maintain control.
A sad sight that tarnishes Argentine football.
Romero goes the wrong way and all sorts of trouble is breaking out now as most of the players are involved.
Pushing and shoving as backroom staff from both sides involved.
Borja to take.
The Colombian slots home and River take the lead.
River are awarded a spot kick in added time. Solari clipped by Sandez and VAR to double check.
Four minutes of time to be added on.
Villa shoots from distance but the effort is easy for Armani to gather.
Boca switches
Esteban Rolón on for Cristian Medina
Agustín Sández on for Valentín Barco
Rojas on for Casco (River change)
Suarez on too as Beltran makes way
Changes in River
Agustín Palavecino on with Esequiel Barco off
Miguel Borja on for Ignacio Fernández
Just over ten minutes of the game remain and the second half as been a patch above the first 45 which was far from entertaining.
Solari (who has looked good since coming on) fires the ball across the face of the Boca goal but there is no-one there to complete the move.
Not a bad effort from the striker as he forces Armani to tip over as we have 20 minutes left in Buenos Aires.
Boca win an excellent free as Casco slides in to stop a Boca man in free flow.
Danger here for River. Villa over the ball.
Solari almost makes it 1-0 as his shot strikes the post and drifts out of play.
Varela makes way for Boca with Fernandez his replacement.
River Plate: Solari on for Aliendro who is on a card. First change of the night.
We've had more excitement and football in the opening ten minutes of the second half than the entire first 45'.
Not a card issued yet in the second half.
De La Cruz fires a blistering shot from outside the box which Romero tips over. What a strike from the Uruguayan and what a save from the Boca stopper.
Villa clipped by Enzo Diaz and is lucky to escape with no card.
Nacho almost fires River ahead as he breaks into the box but Valentini is faster and impedes the shot on goal.
A much, much better start to this half.
My word, Boca have come out of the blocks flying as they move the ball around and create a series of minor forays into the opposition half.
Villa breaks into the box and is barged out of the way by Casco. Not much in it but no infringement.
No changes at the break for either side.
Boca to start the second half.
The players and match officials return to the pitch and we can only hope that we see an improvement in the quality as this has been far from a classic.
So, 21 fouls, 7 cards for players plus Boca boss Almiron also carded and a 0-0 scoreline is revealing in what we've seen in the first 45' of action at El Monumental.
Boca desperate to come away from the game with a point and River just lacking the final composure with the home side on top of a game that has lacked much free flowing football.
Half time and it's goalless at El Monumental
Seven cards now plus Boca coach Almiron all in the book.
Enzo Perez carded as he clips Villa.
Two minutes of added time.
Enzo Perez is one of the few players shining tonight as River play some neat football and we've not had a stoppage for all of two minutes.
Good free form Fernandez as Romero is forced to tip the ball over the bar.
and another card, this time Figal as he slides in and clips Perez.
Varela now carded too as he clips Fernandez.
Final ten minutes of the half and, sadly fouls and breaks in the play have overshadowed the game.
Romero saves well to keep Boca alive but the flag was up for an offside.
Almiron now carded for protesting...
Foul after foul littering the game.
Three players on cards after 30 minutes...Fernandez for Boca and Gonzalez Pierz and Aliendro for River.
Every foul is a yellow card according to the player's of the team who is on the receiving end.
A tough gig for a referee, El Superclasico!
Beltran goes close as he heads across the face of the goal and the ball trickles inches wide.
Fernandez (Boca) carded as he arrives late and clips a River player.
River fans appeal for a spot kick as Beltran is upended in the area.
Ref takes a quick look but waves play on.
Roncaglia messes up and River break down their left hand side as Barco feeds De la Cruz who is just inches offside.
Gonzalez Perez now carded as he slides in and take Villa out.
What price on this game not ending with 22 players?
River win a second corner as they press. Boca second best to everything.
Boca forced to sit deep as River enjoy the bulk of possession.
First chance falls to River and it takes a fine save from Romero who tips the shot around the post.
Aliendro has a pop from long range but blazes over.
Varela now fouls Enzo who demands a yellow.
This is going to be a long 90 minutes for Mr. Herrera tonight's match official.
First card after just four minutes and it goes to Aliendro as he leaves his boot in as he tries to rob Fernandez.
Nervy start from Boca as River win a dangerous free. De la Cruz to take.
Nothing comes from the move as Boca recover the ball.
Niggly fouls very prevalent at the start of the action.
Off we go... River start the game.
The noise levels are different class, 83,000 fans bellowing at the top of their voices... incredible scenes!
Dario Herrera is tonight's match official.
What scenes, red and white smoke bellows across the pitch with flares, smoke bombs massive tifos greeting the teams.
River Plate lead the Argentine Torneo Binance table by six points with San Lorenzo in second with 28 points.
The Monumental is packed and a riot of red and white with 83,000 fans inside the newly renovated stadium.
Less than ten minutes to go ahead of kick-off at El Monumental.
It's not expected that these incidents outside the ground will affect the kick-off time.
Now some fans are showing their season tickets and complaining that they can't access theirs seats with the stadium capacity already full.
Incidents pre-game
Skirmishes have broken out between River fans and local riot police with problems breaking out by some of the access points in the stadium.
At the moment all access points to the stadium are closed as the police use water cannon to disperse fans as the 'hinchas' reply by throwing bottles.
River XI
and from the official River Plate account too, the XI Milionarios to face Boca in the 2023 league Superclasico.
River XI confirmed
Armani; Casco, González Pirez, Mammana, Enzo Díaz; Enzo Pérez, Aliendro; Nacho Fernández, Esequiel Barco, De la Cruz; & Beltrán are the players selected by head coach Demichelis for his first ever Superclasico as River boss.
Boca XI confirmed
This is the team that head coach Jorge Almiron will use for the clash vs River Plate at the Monumental with Boca set to play a 3-5-2 against their eternal rivals.
Understanding El Superclásico
This fine documentary from Copa 90 from a few years back is an excellent way to discover the history, rivalry and what the game means for fans of River Plate and Boca.
River fans arrive at El Monumental
Fans of the home side are starting to pack out the iconic stadium with Argentine football still by and large (with a handful of exceptions) banning away supporters as a measure to clamp down on disorder.
Expect a sea of red and white today at the ground in the Nuñez neighbourhood of BA's.
Boca dressing ready to go
The Boca Juniors backroom staff have painstakingly prepared the shirts and pre-game kit for Los Xeneizes as kick-off looms ever closer
Boca come out on top in recent meetings
River Plate have only won one of the past meetings between the Argentine giants.
Liga: Sep 2022: Boca 1-0 River
Copa de La Liga: March 2022: River 0-1 Boca
Liga: Oct 2021: River 2-1 Boca
Copa Argentina: Aug 2021: Boca 0-0 River (Boca win on pens)
Copa de La Liga: May 2021: Boca 1-1 River (Boca win on pens)
River dressing room is ready
All set in the depths of El Mâs Monumental with River in their classic white shirt with the distinctive red sash combined with black shorts.
River-Boca: h-2-h
In official meetings in the past, Boca and River have faced each other 258 times with the side in blue and yellow holding the upper hand with 91 wins against River’s 84, with 83 games ending in a draw.
Possible Boca XI
Possible Xeneize XI: Sergio Romero; Advíncula, Facundo Roncaglia, Nicolás Figal, Valentini, Barco; Pol Fernandez, Alan Varela, Medina; Sebastian Villa and Luis Vazquez.
Possible River XI
Los Millonarios are expected to start with: Franco Armani; Milton Casco, Leandro González Pírez, Mammana, Enzo Díaz; Enzo Perez, Rodrigo Aliendro; Ignacio Fernández, Nicolás De La Cruz, Ezequiel Barco; and Lucas Beltran.
Boca Juniors enjoyed a wretched start to the season but under new coach Jorge Almiron seemed to have turned the corner and are undefeated in their past fours games with two Libertadores wins and a win/draw in the league campaign.
River slipped up badly midweek falling 5-1 away to Fluminense in the Copa Libertadores. It will be interesting to how Demichelis men respond following that adverse result as the 'Milionarios' have been solid in the league, topping the table and only having lost twice in the league all season.
The action gets underway at 4:30 pm (ET) / 10:30 pm (CEST) and 5:30 pm local Buenos Aires time.
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the 2023 Argentina Primera División Superclásico as River Plate face Boca Juniors at the newly revamped Estadio Mâs Monumental.