Gallardo Weighs Defensive Changes After River’s Costly Mistakes Continue

River Plate’s recent elimination at the hands of Platense has reignited concerns around the team’s defensive line, prompting coach Marcelo Gallardo to consider personnel changes, Olé reported. Despite having a backline filled with national team experience, River continues to leak goals at crucial moments, exposing a weakness that could become fatal as the season intensifies.

On Tuesday night, Lucas Martínez Quarta and Paulo Díaz were again at fault, struggling against pressure and failing to clear danger effectively. Their errors mirror previous lapses against Talleres and Independiente del Valle. Even World Cup winner Germán Pezzella has come under scrutiny for slow reactions and misreads in key plays.

Gallardo, who has already pushed González Pírez down the pecking order and has ruled out Federico Gattoni, is reportedly considering signing one or two center-backs in the next transfer window. Lautaro Rivero’s potential return from Central Córdoba seems more like a stopgap than a real solution.

With the FIFA Club World Cup and the Libertadores knockout rounds approaching, River must fix its defensive issues urgently—or risk having their Achilles’ heel exposed when it matters most.