Marcelo Gallardo will conclude his second tenure as River Plate’s head coach this Thursday, February 26, when his team faces Banfield at the Monumental Stadium, according to confirmations from multiple sources including Softfootball and Infobae.
The decision follows a series of disappointing results, including a recent defeat to Vélez Sarsfield, marking River Plate’s 13th loss in their last 20 matches. Gallardo announced his departure following Monday’s training session, formalizing the news through a video released by the club, as reported by Fabrizio Romano.
For the final match, Gallardo is set to regain the services of Fabricio Bustos and Marcos Acuña. Bustos, who was sidelined due to a gastrointestinal issue, trained fully on Wednesday and is available for selection, though expected to start on the bench behind Gonzalo Montiel. Acuña returns to the squad after recovering from a fever that caused him to miss the previous two games and is anticipated to be in the starting lineup, replacing Matías Viña.
However, Gallardo will be without Franco Armani and Juanfer Quintero, both of whom sustained injuries during the match against Vélez Sarsfield. Armani has re-injured his heel, while Quintero suffered a hamstring tear. Kendry Páez is also unlikely to feature due to an acromioclavicular sprain.
The composition of River Plate’s starting eleven remains a point of discussion, with Gallardo weighing potential changes beyond those necessitated by injury. Players such as Beltrán, Montiel, Martínez Quarta, Vera, Moreno, and Galván are likely to retain their places. Decisions remain regarding Paulo Díaz’s inclusion, the selection of a left-back, a replacement for Quintero, and the composition of the forward line, with Sebastián Driussi expected to lead the attack.
The match, scheduled for 7:30 PM local time, is expected to be emotionally charged, with fans likely to both applaud Gallardo’s contributions and express dissatisfaction with the team’s recent performances, according to reports. The Monumental Stadium is anticipated to be filled for Gallardo’s farewell appearance.
