Gallardo's Midfield Puzzle: The Dilemma Facing River Plate

If there’s one thing that signals a team is still finding its feet, it’s an unsettled lineup just days before a massive knockout game. That was exactly the situation for River Plate heading into their do-or-die second leg against Libertad in the Copa Libertadores round of 16. With the tie locked at 0-0, the pressure was immense, and manager Marcelo "El Muñeco" Gallardo was wrestling with a puzzle that could define their season: the midfield.

Key Highlights

• ✓ Marcelo Gallardo faced a huge midfield selection dilemma ahead of the crucial second leg against Libertad.
• ✓ At 39 years old, the legendary Enzo Pérez was the only midfielder guaranteed a spot in the starting eleven.
• ✓ Sebastián Driussi became River's top scorer in 2025, netting his 10th goal of the year in the match.
• ✓ After a 1-1 draw at El Monumental, River Plate advanced to the quarterfinals by winning a tense penalty shootout.
• ✓ The first leg in Paraguay ended in a tight 0-0 draw, setting up a winner-take-all scenario in Núñez.

The One Certainty in a Sea of Doubts

Let's be clear: the heart of any great team is its midfield. It's the engine room, the neuralgic zone that dictates the flow of the game. And for River, heading into this massive clash on August 22, 2025, that engine room was a complete question mark, with one massive exception: Enzo Pérez. The captain, the emblem, the undisputed leader of the squad, was the only name Gallardo had penciled in with absolute certainty.

At 39 years old, Pérez is the only pure central midfielder in the squad, a testament to his enduring quality. The real dilemma for Gallardo wasn't if Enzo would play, but how to build a structure around him. The goal was to provide him with support, to avoid exposing him, and to ensure he could be the team's foundation and the starting point for every attack. Six players were vying for the spots alongside him, each bringing something completely different to the table.

The New Guard and The Hot Hand

Among the contenders, a few names were bubbling to the surface. Matías Galarza, the Paraguayan arrival from Talleres, made an immediate impact. Ever since his debut in the classic against San Lorenzo, he was a fixture in the starting lineup. His physical presence, intensity, and versatility made him a valuable asset. While he hadn't been dazzling, he was reliable, and it looked like he had a strong claim to start.

On the other hand, Kevin Castaño's journey was heading in the opposite direction. The Colombian had also been a frequent starter, but his form was noticeably declining. A poor performance against Godoy Cruz while playing as a central midfielder seemed to be a strong signal that his time in the starting XI might be coming to an end. It's a tough break, but in football, you're only as good as your last game.

Then you have the wildcard, the man on fire: Giuliano Galoppo. The former Banfield player was simply undeniable. He brought an offensive punch that no other midfielder in the squad possessed, and his numbers backed it up. He was making a compelling case that he absolutely had to be on the field against Libertad from the first whistle.

💡 What's Interesting: Giuliano Galoppo's form was impossible to ignore. The midfielder had scored an impressive four goals in the six matches he played during the semester, forcing his way into Gallardo's plans.

Choosing Between Magic and Experience

Beyond the workhorses, Gallardo had to decide on the creative spark. This is where the decision-making got really tricky, involving two club icons. Ignacio 'Nacho' Fernández, a player with a deep history at the club and the complete trust of his manager, was making a strong push. His introduction in the first leg against Libertad completely revitalized a static River team, reminding everyone of his influence on the game's flow.

Starting Nacho would bring more creativity and intelligent passing to the midfield, but it would come at a cost—a reduction in defensive capacity. It was a classic risk-reward scenario. The other option was the man who embodies pure magic: Juan Fernando Quintero. The Colombian is the kind of player who can unlock the tightest of defenses with a single pass or shot, but he’s not known for his defensive work rate.

Juanfer's form had been on the rise, both physically and technically, until a slight knee issue forced him off in the previous match. While he was available to start, the big question was whether Gallardo would unleash him from the beginning or keep him as a game-changing ace up his sleeve for the second half. It's the kind of decision that managers lose sleep over.

The Fading Option

While some players were on the rise, Santiago Lencina was unfortunately losing ground. After starting the first few games of the semester, his performance levels had clearly dipped. He was substituted at halftime against Independiente and in the first leg against Libertad, and didn't play a single minute against Godoy Cruz. Despite being the most natural fit for the 4-3-3 system Gallardo had been using, it seemed very likely he would be left out of the team for this crucial match.

How It All Played Out at El Monumental

So, with all this uncertainty swirling, how did the match actually go? Well, it was every bit as tense as you’d expect. For the first half-hour, River dominated possession but just couldn't find a way to break down a stubborn Libertad defense. Then came a moment of pure class. Marcos Acuña, pushed upfield, delivered a stunning cross into the box with the outside of his left foot—a pass that screamed quality.

The cross found the head of Facundo Colidio, whose effort crashed against the crossbar. But the story didn't end there. Like a true striker, Sebastián Driussi stormed into the six-yard box, getting ahead of former River player Robert Rojas to head the rebound into the net. It was a poacher's goal that sent the Monumental into a frenzy and gave River the 1-0 lead they desperately needed.

That goal was a huge moment for Driussi, marking his 10th in 25 games for the year and officially making him River's top scorer for 2025. But the drama was far from over. In a cruel twist of fate, it was Rojas who came back to haunt his old club, scoring an equalizer for Libertad. The game ended 1-1, and after all that, it came down to the nerve-shredding lottery of a penalty shootout. Ultimately, River held their nerve, with Franco Armani playing the hero, and they scraped through to the quarterfinals. It wasn't pretty, but they survived.

Conclusion

In the end, River Plate's journey in the Copa Libertadores continues, but the match against Libertad was a perfect snapshot of their current state. The pre-game midfield dilemma highlighted a team still searching for its ideal formula and struggling for consistency. They needed a moment of individual brilliance from Acuña and Driussi's predatory instincts to find a breakthrough, and ultimately had to rely on penalties to advance against a team they were favored to beat.

While the win is what matters, Gallardo knows the performance left much to be desired. The midfield puzzle remains unsolved, and tougher challenges lie ahead in the quarterfinals. For now, it’s a sigh of relief for the Millonario faithful, who know their team lived to fight another day, albeit by the skin of their teeth.