Facundo Colidio has suffered a devastating setback amidst the team's poor football form: he has a tear in his left hamstring and will miss the Superclásico against Boca Juniors next Sunday at La Bombonera. The injury occurred at the very beginning of the match against Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata, when the forward stretched his leg to control a ball and felt an immediate twinge. Although he was rested against Gimnasia and is recovering well, his presence will depend on his response during the week's training. Without Colidio, with Driussi in doubt and with Montiel being handled with care, River Plate will face Boca with a squad that is physically and mentally battered. He was replaced by Cristian Jaime, who, already on the bench, broke down in tears, anticipating what would later be confirmed by medical examinations. The diagnosis not only rules him out of the match against Boca but also jeopardizes his presence in the early stages of the Clausura tournament playoffs, provided River qualifies. Colidio, who is not going through his best moment—106 days and 16 matches without scoring—was nonetheless a key player for Gallardo: he is the team's second top scorer of the year with nine goals in 47 appearances. His absence adds to the uncertainty surrounding Sebastián Driussi, who is recovering from a left hamstring strain and will be evaluated day by day. The squad's physical condition worsens the outlook on the eve of the Superclásico. Gonzalo Montiel, who is dealing with a mild left medial collateral ligament sprain, is also not at full strength. The Superclásico looms as an early final, but the team arrives diminished and with more questions than certainties in a decisive stretch of the season.
