River Plate faces injury concerns for Montiel and Acuña ahead of Colombia match

River Plate celebrated a much-needed 2-0 victory over Argentinos Juniors at the Estadio Monumental, breaking a streak of four consecutive losses in the Clausura and a disappointing Copa Argentina exit. The win provided a significant energy boost to the team as they prepare for their Copa Sudamericana Round of 16 first-leg match against Independiente Santa Fe in Bogotá.

However, the satisfaction of the win was overshadowed by injuries to key players. Gonzalo Montiel, who scored the opening goal, was substituted due to discomfort in his left adductor. This, coupled with Marcos Acuña's ongoing recovery from physical issues, presents a significant dilemma for coach Eduardo Coudet regarding the team's fullback positions for the international fixture.

Montiel's potential absence forces Coudet to consider unconventional solutions. Giovanni González, the only natural right-back signed for the season, is ineligible for the Copa Sudamericana as he was not included in the squad list. This leaves Coudet potentially needing to repurpose a center-back for the right-back role or explore other tactical formations, such as a back three with wing-backs.

Further complicating matters, Francisco Ortega, a recent acquisition, is also not registered for the Copa Sudamericana, impacting options at left-back with Acuña sidelined. River Plate's transfer window saw the signing of nine players, but only five could be registered for the tournament, forcing difficult choices and leaving several key signings, like Lucas Beltrán, unavailable.