River Faces Must-Win Clash Against Monterrey With Knockout Spot on the Line

River Plate will face Monterrey this Saturday in a high-stakes Group E showdown at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena as part of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. With both teams still battling for qualification, the match could determine who advances to the knockout stage. The game will be officiated by Slavko Vincic and broadcast live via DSports and DAZN.

As reported by Infobae, River opened the tournament with a hard-fought win over Urawa Red Diamonds but now needs another victory after Monterrey’s surprising 1-1 draw with Inter. Coach Marcelo Gallardo suffered a setback with the injury to forward Sebastián Driussi, who will miss the rest of the tournament with a severe ankle sprain.

Gallardo may turn to Miguel Borja to lead the line or opt for a tactical reshuffle with Maximiliano Meza in midfield to offer more creativity and free up youngster Franco Mastantuono. Enzo Pérez, fully recovered, will return to the lineup alongside Kevin Castaño and Ignacio Fernández. Defenders Germán Pezzella and Lucas Martínez Quarta are set to remain in the backline despite a shaky debut.

Monterrey, meanwhile, is riding high after holding Inter to a draw in Domènec Torrent’s debut as head coach. Veteran defender Sergio Ramos trained separately but is expected to be fit. Torrent is likely to switch formations from a 3-5-2 to a 4-2-3-1, bringing in Nelson Deossa and shifting roles in midfield.

The Mexican side will also feature three Argentine players: Lucas Berterame, Jorge Rodríguez, and Lucas Ocampos — the latter a River fan and former youth product. Saturday’s game will not only be decisive but emotionally charged.

With a place in the next round at stake, both sides will be under pressure to deliver. A win guarantees survival; anything less leaves the door wide open for early elimination.