River Plate routs Barracas to reach quarterfinals of Argentine league

IANS May 13, 2025 233 views

River Plate demonstrated exceptional form in their 3-0 victory over Barracas Central, securing a spot in the Argentine league quarterfinals. The match featured goals from Paulo Diaz, Ignacio Fernandez, and World Cup winner Marcos Acuna, showcasing the team's offensive prowess. Manager Marcelo Gallardo praised his team's preparation and ability to overcome challenges during the match. With this win, River Plate maintains a strong position in Group B, trailing leaders Rosario Central by just four points.

"We knew it was going to be tough, but our players showed that they were prepared for this match" - Marcelo Gallardo
Buenos Aires, May 13 : River Plate advanced to the quarterfinals of Argentina's Primera Division Apertura tournament with a 3-0 home victory over Barracas Central on Monday. Paulo Diaz opened the scoring when he pounced on a loose ball to fire home from six yards, and Ignacio Fernandez doubled the lead with a first-time strike into the far corner after Franco Mastantuono's cross.

Key Points

1

River Plate dominates Barracas Central with convincing 3-0 home win

2

Paulo Diaz opens scoring with early goal

3

Marcos Acuna seals victory with deflected long-range strike

4

Team advances to quarterfinals of Apertura tournament

Argentina World Cup winner Marcos Acuna put the result beyond doubt by thumping a 25-yard drive that took a deflection before rebounding in off the right post, reports Xinhua.

"We knew it was going to be tough, but our players showed that they were prepared for this match," River Plate manager Marcelo Gallardo told a post-match news conference.

"Thankfully, we were able to score an early goal and then another one at the start of the second half. We managed to play our game despite the difficulty presented to us by our rival."

River's next opponent will be Platense, which progressed to the last eight by overcoming Racing Club 1-0 on Saturday.

Currently, River Plate are in second position in the points table in Apertura, Group B with 31 points from 16 matches. River Plate trail leaders Rosario Central by four points with Independiente in third position with 29 points in the 15-team Group B.

Argentinos Juniors. lead Group A with 33 points, with Boca Juniors in second place on goal difference. Racing Club are third with 28 points in the 15-team group.

The Apertura or "Opening" tournament of the Primera Division is half of Argentina's split-season format, which was reintroduced in 2025 after its last implementation in 2012. It runs from January to June and is followed by the Clausura or "Closing" tournament from July to December.

Club Atlético River Plate, commonly known as River Plate, is considered one of the Big Five of Argentine football, along with Independiente, San Lorenzo, Boca Juniors, and Racing Club.

Reader Comments

R
Rahul K.
As an Indian football fan, it's great to see River Plate performing well! Their style of play is so fluid compared to most ISL teams. Wish we had such technical quality in our domestic league. That Acuna goal sounded spectacular! ⚽
P
Priya M.
Interesting to see Argentina's split-season format. Maybe Indian Super League could learn something from this structure to keep the competition exciting throughout the year. River Plate vs Boca Juniors is always the match to watch though!
A
Amit S.
River Plate's dominance shows why South American football is still a class apart. We need more Indian players to get exposure in leagues like this. The gap between our football and theirs is massive, but we can learn from their youth development.
S
Sunita R.
While I enjoy watching European leagues, there's something special about the passion in Argentine football. The River Plate fans create such an amazing atmosphere! Wish we could develop that kind of football culture in India. More coverage of these matches would be great!
V
Vikram J.
Good performance by River Plate, but I feel the article could have given more context about their historical rivalry with Boca Juniors. For new fans like me, understanding these club dynamics makes the matches more interesting. Still, great to see world football coverage in Indian media!
N
Neha P.
The Argentine league produces such talented players who then shine in Europe. Maybe ISL clubs should look at more scouting partnerships with teams like River Plate. Their academy system is world-class! 🇮🇳🤝🇦🇷

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