Jonatan Maidana slides in for River’s equaliser and a piece of Agustin Orion

It may only be a summer preseason tournament but a clash between Argentina’s biggest rivals is always an event and last night’s Superclásico in Mar Del Plata was no different. It may have been played some five hours away from Buenos Aires but it was an opportunity for both sets of fans to pack out the Estadio José María Minella and earn the first bragging rights of 2014. What transpired was a typically fiery encounter ending with 2 red cards and a 1-1 draw. There is still plenty for both sides to work on before the second Superclásico next week in Cordoba and more importantly the Torneo Final.

At this early stage both managers will take positives from their performances but there is still significant work to do. Bianchi’s Boca started well despite the absence of talisman, Juan Roman Riquelme and Bianchi will be angered by the late first half goal conceded and Daniel ‘Cata’ Diaz’s subsequent sending off. River grew into the game and perhaps were more of a goal threat with Fernando Cavanaghi back in the attack than last season’s toothless side but Ramon Diaz will not have been pleased by his veteran strikers petulant sending off late in the game.

Boca’s 4-2-3-1 formation controlled the midfield and pressed River Plate into mistakes and loose possession. Pablo Ledesma and Fernando Gago sat in front of a new look back four, encorporating new signings, Hernan Grana and Juan Forlin and this solid base allowed the creative trio of Juan Manuel Martinez, Luciano Acosta and Juan Sánchez Miño to support lone striker, Emmanuel Gigliotti.

This formation dictated the early proceedings and created a good chance for Gigliotti prior to Sánchez Miño breaking the deadlock. Continuously linked with a move away from La Bombonera it was Sánchez Miño’s trademark left foot that expertly dispatched a free kick from 25 yards out. Curling over the wall and against the inside of the post, even the scrambling Marcelo Barovero could not keep it out.

However, River reacted well and pushed Boca back. Chances fell to Colombian, Carlos Carbonero and Cavanaghi but neither could force the equaliser. Instead it was the unlikely source of Jonatan Maidana that grabbed the goal. A short corner caused confusion in the Boca penalty box and in the melee, Maidana slid in to divert the ball past Agustin Orion and in the process catch the goalkeeper where no one wants to be caught.

Boca fumed feeling that this was a foul on Orion but the goal stood. Sadly for Boca, experienced centre half, Daniel Diaz couldn’t let this go and eventually talked himself into an early bath.

Boca reacted to this by sacrificing the impressive Acosta at the break in place of Joel Rodriguez, a change which seemed to stifle River’s hopes of making their numerical advantage count.

Both sides managed to create chances but neither could find a winner and with time running out Fernando Cavanaghi lashed out at Fernando Gago off the ball and was shown a straight red card. Deep into injury time it had no impact on the game but was a moment of stupidity from a player who has plenty of Superclásico experience to know better.

Both sides now move on to next weeks replay in Cordoba before the third and final match in Mendoza. The Superclásico is always an engrossing event but both sides will be looking for improvements if this fixture is to have a bearing on the championship in some months time.

Teams:

Boca Juniors: Agustin Orion (Emanuel Trípodi); Hernan Grana, Daniel Diaz, Juan Forlin, Nahuel Zarate; Pablo Ledesma, Fernando Gago; Juan Manuel Martinez (Gonzalo Escalante), Luciano Acosta (Joel Rodriguez), Juan Sánchez Miño (Nicolás Colazo); Emmanuel Gigliotti

River Plate: Marcelo Barovero; Gabriel Mercado, Jonatan Maidana, Ramiro Funes Mori; Carlos Carbonero, Leonardo Ponzio, Cristian Ledesma (Matías Kranevitter), Leonel Vangioni (Osmar Ferreyra); Manuel Lanzini; Teofilo Gutierrez (Daniel Villalva), Fernando Cavenaghi