The lessons of River – Boca: high and low points of the Demichelis and Martínez teams

The day after Super classic generates controversy on social networks, bar tables 2.0, although there are still those who debate coffee through. The players are candid, but the coaches draw conclusions. The analysis, then, has to do with the strengths and weaknesses that each of them showed in the Monumental. Enhance the positive aspects and correct the negative items. Lessons that this duel left for River and Boca in the search for excellence that allows them to gain momentum in the League Cup and international tournaments.

The best and the worst, even in the extremes, can lead to the balance that the two giants of Argentine soccer need to reach their most competitive version. In that sense, we will have to go back to Sunday and break down those ninety intense, even and discussed minutes with more fiber than volume of play.

To begin with, it should be noted that The current situation of River and Boca is far from ideal. Beyond the position that the millionaires hold in the table, he added 3 of the last 9 points at stake and two of those three games were played on his own court. The xeneizes are very far from Godoy Cruz, the leader of Zone B, and if the panorama includes a year-on-year look, the results are very poor. Although the draw can galvanize the spirit because it had lost the last two head-to-head with its historic rival, it only won 7 of the last 31 games.

The individual level stood out above the collective functioning. In that context, Paulo Diaz He once again showed his hierarchy. As an example, one statistic is enough: He has an average of almost 50 successful passes per game (85%) and they are not sessions with the goalkeeper. When he grabs the spear, the Chilean leads and is usually a good starting point. He had an advance, a win and he won up and down against Boca.

Other highlights were Rodrigo Villagra, Claudio Echeverri and Facundo Colidio. The midfielder that arrived from Talleres showed that the red band does not bother him. In a neuralgic area of ​​the court, he moved naturally and without the company of another “5”. El Diablito, barely 18 years old, had personality, was more lucid and had more lucidity than two other talented players with more experience, Esequiel Barco and Nacho Fernández. The former Tigre was a beacon that shone in the absence of Miguel Borja, the injured “9” who entered in the second half. He generated very clear situations and that is one of his biggest deficits, because needs to specify. In 7 dates, he scored a double against Vélez and never again.

“There are good things like the fact that we haven’t lost yet and that they score very few goals against us,” he said. Martin Demichelis at the press conference. River remains undefeated and Franco Armani only suffered three goals, it is a reality. However, those three draws add up to little in the history of the club. And the coach, who knows the red and white palate, knows it.

The attitude of the starter is another point to value and the offensive search, something that was not negotiated throughout the tournament, not even as a visitor. That is why it is the team that scored the most goals (13, along with Talleres), the one that generated the most chances (30), the one that has the most possession (60.9%) and that has the most shots on goal per game (6.6 ).

Aside from its virtues, there is an acceleration that is not always accompanied by precision. River plays at a speed above average and that requires fine players. If Barco and Nacho are not at their best, the team suffers. And that happened in the last games.

The right back is a big problem. Marcelo Herrera and Agustín Sant’Anna are doing better than they come back. One played to the limit of the red and the other was responsible for Boca’s goal.

Demichelis’ changes are questioned. He explained that Echeverri and Villagra left due to wear and tear. He gave the impression that he rushed to get the Little Devil out, beyond a dizziness. Was Rodrigo Aliendro the right one to replace the Chaco man?

In proportion to the number of chances he generates, he is also the one who makes the most mistakes (20). All an indication that you must calibrate your aim in the final meters.

Nobody defined with such certainty what Boca needs, and at times they achieved it in the Superclásico, as Sergio Romero. “I think that if it enters our head that we can see a different Boca, not only a brave one, but one that likes to play ball, it will be spectacular,” said the goalkeeper.

The goal is a testimony that Diego Martínez has associative footballers capable of developing. There were ten touches until Cristian Medina’s definition. It was a play typical of a well-oiled team.

The defense only received 4 goals and Cristian Lema did not need adaptation to lead the central defense in the absence of Marcos Rojo.

Lautaro Blanco is a success for the coach. He asked for it especially, he arrived from Elche and won the title over Frank Fabra, a darling of Román. He is very sharp – he made it clear in the goal – and fast.

The midfield he chose with three kids from the lower divisions (Jabes Saralegui, Equi Fernández and Medina) plus Kevin Zenón gave him greater freshness.

Behind River, it is the team with the most possession (56.3%) and successful passes per game (353). He is on the podium of the clubs that generate the most possibilities (19), below Godoy Cruz (20) and the millionaires (30).

There are footballers who are going through a critical moment. This is the case of Edinson Cavani. The Uruguayan forward has not scored goals since October (532 minutes) and in the Superclásico he did not kick on goal. Miguel Merentiel scored three goals, but he is not at a great level either. In this tandem we must add Darío Benedetto and Luca Langoni. The forwards are not lucid in the area and it shows in the offensive harvest.

In any case, of the 7 goals he scored in the League Cup, 4 were scored by the attacking men (three by Merentiel, one by Benedetto). None of stopped balls.

A trait that Boca must improve is the change of pace and speed. At times, he moves the ball too much. And although he is one of the leaders in the possession table, it does not always translate into aggressiveness.

River and Boca can give much more. It will be up to them to have learned from this classic that left a point and several lessons.