River Lose Driussi to Injury, May Call Bareiro if They Advance

River Plate’s hopes in the Club World Cup took a hit after Sebastián Driussi was ruled out with a severe ankle sprain. According to TyC Sports, the forward injured his left ankle ligament while scoring his team’s second goal against Urawa Red Diamonds and will be sidelined for at least a month. His exit came just moments after a powerful header that extended River’s lead.

The injury occurred when Driussi was hit in the air and landed awkwardly. “I broke everything,” he reportedly said as he left the pitch on crutches. Despite a 3-1 win, River now face key decisions with their attacking setup ahead of the Monterrey clash.

Coach Marcelo Gallardo could replace Driussi with Miguel Borja, a traditional striker with a decent scoring record. Alternatively, he may add a midfielder and push Colidio into a central role, with names like Meza, Martínez, Lanzini or Rojas in the mix.

Olé also reported that River are considering adding Adam Bareiro if they reach the Round of 16. The Paraguayan striker recently returned from a loan at Al-Rayyan, where he scored six goals and provided five assists in 17 games. Though his first stint at River was underwhelming, circumstances may grant him a second chance.

For now, the team must regroup quickly and find the right balance without one of their key forwards.