Raphael Durand
Dailysports's expert
One of the quarter-final clashes of the Argentine Apertura championship will take place on Wednesday at the Monumental, where local giants River Plate host Platense. I’m offering a bet on the outcome of this encounter with an enticing odds value.
Match preview
Marcelo Gallardo’s men continue to dominate both domestically and on the continental stage. Their recent fireworks against Independiente del Valle (6-2) in the Copa Libertadores showcased the “Millionaires’” stunning attacking prowess, while a convincing 3-0 victory over Barracas Central in the previous Apertura playoff round only strengthened the team’s self-belief.
River Plate are arguably at the peak of their form right now, and every opponent knows just how tough it is to stop their relentless assault. The mood in the squad is sky-high, with a Superclásico win and Libertadores success fueling dreams of a trophy double. The players are charged up, and Gallardo will certainly not allow any complacency at the quarter-final stage.
Platense pulled off a sensation by knocking out Racing (1-0) in the previous playoff round, and now they’re determined to take another step towards glory. Despite their underdog status, Luis Zubeldía’s side know that anything is possible at this stage—especially if they organize their defense well and capitalize on rare chances near the opposition’s goal.
Platense’s main bet is on discipline and strict adherence to the coach’s plan, because any lapse from River could be the springboard for a surprise counter. Notably, back-to-back draws against River Plate (1-1 and 0-0) in the autumn-winter period have certainly boosted Platense’s confidence.
Probable lineups
- River Plate: Franco Armani – Fabrizio Bustos, Germán Pezzella, Lucas Martínez Quarta, Milton Casco – Enzo Fernández, Giuliano Galoppo, Kevin Castaño – Fabrizio Mastantuono, Sebastián Driussi, Facundo Colidio
- Platense: Alexis Lotti – Víctor Taborda, Ramón Martínez, Guido Mainero – Luciano Picco, Robert Herrera – Tomás Silva, Omar Salomón, Iñaki Vázquez, Joaquín Saborido – Jorge Cozzani
Match facts and head-to-head
- After a seven-match winning streak, River Plate have failed to beat Platense in their last two meetings
- Both teams to score has landed in four of the last five encounters
- The over 2.5 goals bet has come through in three of the last five games
Prediction
River Plate’s form suggests a confident victory in this matchup. Platense will try to cause problems with a compact defense, but the hosts’ attacking quality is likely to be the decisive factor. Our bet for the match: “River Plate to win with a -1.0 handicap” at odds of 1.88.
