Copa Libertadores final: Storylines, players to watch

Leonardo Jara of Argentina's Boca Juniors, right, fights for the ball with Gonzalo Martinez of Argentina's River Plate during the first leg soccer match of the Copa Libertadores final in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Sunday, Nov. 11, 2018. (Gustavo Garello/AP)

Arguably the most important final in the history of the Copa Libertadores concludes on Sunday when River Plate hosts Boca Juniors in the second leg.

Both sides settled for a 2-2 draw in an enthralling first leg at La Bombonera, which leaves plenty of intrigue and drama for Saturday afternoon at Estadio Monumental.

The match was originally slated to take place on Nov. 24, but River fans attacked the Boca Juniors team bus before the game, which led to a litany of cancellations and debate. Eventually, it was decided that the second leg would be played at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid.

Now that we have a match scheduled, here are a couple of storylines to monitor and some players to watch ahead of the second leg.

Will the goalkeepers be the top performers again?

River’s Franco Armani and Boca’s Agustín Rossi combined to make nine saves in the first leg, but it was Rossi who was the busiest man at La Bombonera.

Rossi pulled off a few stops in one-on-one situations as Boca were picked apart on the flanks via River’s counter-attack, courtesy Gonzalo “Pity” Martínez and Gonzalo Montiel.

The 23-year-old has been Boca’s No. 1 with Esteban Andrada injured. However, Andrada is available for the second leg and is favoured to start on Saturday.

Whoever earns the nod could determine the outcome of the match. River has punished Boca on the break in previous meetings, including the first leg. Therefore, the visiting goalkeeper will likely be busy.

As for Armani, he was called into action on a couple of occasions, especially at the end of the match. Apart from letting Ramón Ábila’s opener slipping underneath his arms, he produced another masterclass for River, which has become commonplace for the Argentine international.

If Armani didn’t stop Darío Benedetto late in the game, Boca likely win the first leg and head into Estadio Monumental with a crucial advantage.

Chances are the goalkeepers will be integral for their respective teams again.

Guillermo Barros Schelotto’s final match?

When Guillermo Barros Schelotto was hired as Boca Juniors manager in 2016, he had one major objective: winning the Copa Libertadores.

Whatever transpires, Barros Schelotto’s contract expires in December and he’s reportedly on Atlanta United’s radar to replace Gerardo Martino. MLS fans might be familiar with el Mellizo as he spent four seasons with the Columbus Crew from 2007 to 2010.

However, the 45-year-old has been criticized for failing to establish a clear style and system at the club.

Boca has spent more than US$45 million on signings under Barros Schelotto, which is a fortune in South America, so leaving the club without a Copa Libertadores title would be a disappointment.

Players to watch

Gonzalo “Pity” Martínez (River Plate): Also reportedly set to join Atlanta United, the 25-year-old is one of River’s key players. Usually operating as a winger, Martinez occupied a more central role in the first leg and was arguably the man of the match. It’s possible that River manager Marcelo Gallardo deploys el Pity in a similar position on Saturday.

Wilmar Barrios (Boca Juniors): The Colombian international was outstanding in the first leg in the heart of the midfield, and has been a stalwart in general since joining Boca in 2016. Barrios, who became a key player for Colombia at the World Cup, has since been linked to the likes of Tottenham and Real Madrid. He could move one step closer to Europe if he lifts the Copa Libertadores title.

Exequiel Palacios (River Plate): Like Barrios, Palacios is drawing strong interest from Real Madrid. He only turned 20 years old in October and didn’t become a regular starter until July, yet he’s performed consistently well in the Copa Libertadores and it led to his Argentina debut in September. Palacios is a tenacious ball-winning midfielder who excels when he presses and tracks the runs of opposing players, but he does like to burst forward on the dribble when the opportunity presents itself.

Cristian Pavón (Boca Juniors): He was initially ruled out of the second leg with an injury, but since the second leg was delayed, Pavón is now fully fit. The 22-year-old has been a key player for the Xeneize in Copa Libertadores action and is tipped to start on Sunday, although there will be fitness concerns because Pavón has not played since the first leg on Nov. 11.

Gonzalo Montiel (River Plate): Montiel has almost become the forgotten man since Palacios burst onto the scene, yet the young right-back is very talented in his own right. The 21-year-old is the only outfield player for River to play every single minute of the team’s Copa Libertadores campaign so far. He has great vision and anticipation, which might be why Barcelona scouted the defender a few weeks ago. However, Montiel will be somewhat pricey, as he just signed a new deal with a release clause of €20 million.

Darío Benedetto (Boca Juniors): He’ll probably be an impact substitute, but that’s been Benedetto’s speciality since recovering from a devastating knee injury last month. He scored in the first leg after replacing Pavón and struck in both legs of the semifinals versus Palmeiras. River has to be on high alert if he steps onto the pitch.

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