The match between River Plate and Estudiantes did not go as expected for Marcelo Gallardo's team. El Pincha managed to break a 14-year streak without victories at the Monumental, thus reaching the top of their group and leaving River without its unbeaten record, while denying Franco Armani the chance to maintain his streak of seven matches without conceding goals.
River, on their part, had a tangled game. Despite finding a goal through Alexis Castro, the team was affected by the early yellow cards of their two central midfielders. The expulsion of Enzo Pérez in the second half made things even more complicated. Santiago Ascacibar, captain of Estudiantes and the team's top scorer with four goals, sealed the match with another goal.
Marcelo Gallardo opted for a double playmaker scheme, but River failed to find their rhythm. Although they tried to counteract the numerical disadvantage due to the expulsion, they lacked precision in the final meters. The introduction of Miguel Borja in the second half was not enough to change the scoreline, despite Paulo Díaz's attempts.
On this occasion, River could not achieve victory. Estudiantes stood out in the match, showing depth on the flanks and proving to be a strong team. Despite VAR interventions and the forwards' attempts, River ended up scoreless and without clear goal opportunities. The wingers failed to provide solutions, and the efforts of young players like Ian Subiabre were not enough to change the outcome.
