River Plate v Boca Juniors - Preview and possible lineups

TEAM NEWS:

River Plate: Striker Rafael Borre will miss out due to suspension after picking up his third booking of the competition in the first leg, whilst Nicolas De La Cruz will also play no part. Ignacio Scocco, Rodrigo Mora and Juan Quintero are all facing a race against time to bit fit, but River are hopeful that one or more could be involved from the start.

Boca Juniors:

Frank Fabra remains sidelined with a serious knee injury, though youngster Cristian Pavon is expected to be fit after limping off early on in the first leg. Goalkeeper Esteban Andrada is expected to return between the sticks after missing the first legs, whilst Lucas Olaza and Ramon Abila are back to full fitness after knocks.

WHO'S SAYING WHAT?

River Plate boss Marcelo Gallardo:

“To play the Copa Libertadores 10,000 kilometres away from home is shameful.

“In the future we will look back at this day and reflect upon it (the decision) because our supporters have been robbed of the chance to watch it.

“There is not anything we can do and maybe the next time this will be to another team, but this choice is ridiculous and I cannot say more than that on how I feel at the moment.

“We need to get ready for the match and to prepare in the best way possible, to defend the interests of our supporters, because nobody else will.”

Boca Juniors boss Guillermo Barros Schelotto:

"We should have played in our own country but unfortunately that is not possible.

"Unfortunately, we never learn. It seems we make the same mistakes over and over again, and what is damaged is the image of Argentinian and South American football.

"Today we should be talking about how River and Boca made Argentina proud and instead, we are talking about violence. Again, we have lost to violence.

"On its own, Real Madrid's stadium seems excellent to me. But we need time, we need matches of this quality played in Argentina or South America and to show that we have matured.

"What happened 15 days ago is regrettable and it has to change because when you can't play a Boca against River match in Argentina, that is worrying."

FORM:

DID YOU KNOW?

River have kept just one clean sheet in their last 10 competitive games.

There has been an average of 7.6 yellow cards per game across the last five 'Superclásicos'.

Boca hold the overall bragging rights, winning 88 of 247 competitive fixtures between the pair (W88, D78, L81).

Boca have won just once away from home in the Copa Libertadores this season (W1, D5, L0).

The 'Xeneizes' are unbeaten in their last five competitive games (W3, D2, L1).

POSSIBLE LINEUPS:

River Plate: Armani; Martinez, Maidana, Pinola; Montiel, Palacios, Perez, Casco; Quintero; Scocco, Pratto.

Boca Juniors: Andrada; Jara, Izquierdoz, Magallan, Olaza; Nandez, Barrios, Perez; Villa, Tevez, Pavon.