River Plate player Juan Carlos Portillo suffered a tear to the right knee ligaments in an unfortunate play towards the end of the match on the night of Wednesday, February 12, between 'Millonario' and Argentinos Juniors. According to the Argentine News Agency, the 25-year-old midfielder tore his right anterior cruciate ligament, as well as spraining his medial collateral ligament. In this context, Portillo will face surgery followed by a long recovery and rehabilitation process, which will prevent him from returning to play in the Opening Tournament, keeping him off the pitch for at least eight months. After three matches without a win, including two tough consecutive defeats against Tigre (4-1) and Argentinos Juniors (0-1), River Plate received more bad news with Portillo's injury. The player had attempted to challenge for the ball with midfielder Federico Fattori, for which he jumped, and upon landing, his right knee lost stability and buckled inward, overstretching his cruciate and collateral ligaments and causing various injuries. Concerned and tearful, Portillo quickly realized the severity of his injury and had to be taken off the field, even though his team had no substitutions left, before leaving the pitch in a brace that immobilized the joint. One day after the incident, medical tests were clear: the former Talleres de Córdoba player had a tear in his anterior cruciate ligament and a sprain in his medial collateral ligament. Having to be surgically operated on and missing at least eight months of competition, coach Marcelo Gallardo will have one less option in a midfield that has yet to settle and meet expectations.
