River draws 2-2 with Flamengo in preseason friendly

River Plate began their second-half preparations with a 2-2 draw against Flamengo in a friendly match held in Faro, Portugal. The game highlighted a squad undergoing substantial changes, with several new signings integrated and others expected to arrive.

Despite moments of positive play, River's defense showed vulnerabilities, frequently allowing Flamengo to create scoring opportunities. Goalkeeper Santiago Beltrán emerged as a standout performer, making numerous saves to deny the Brazilian club, which is considered a Copa Libertadores contender. Flamengo generated 13 chances on goal throughout the match.

Among the four new signings for River, Giovanni González and Mauro Arrambarri featured in the starting lineup. The team deployed a 4-1-3-2 formation, similar to the previous Coudet cycle, with Vera anchoring the midfield. Sebastián Driussi opened the scoring for River in the seventh minute after a high press forced a defensive error from Flamengo's Jorginho.

River sought to press high up the pitch, a strategy that initially yielded results with Driussi's goal. However, this approach also left them exposed, leading to five dangerous chances for Flamengo within the first 15 minutes. The Brazilian side exploited spaces when River's press faltered, with players like Vitao and Pulgar testing Beltrán, who made a notable save from a Pedro shot.