“It was the game that everyone expected, tough with lots of fight,” said River Plate defender Javier Pinola. The palpable hype surrounding the first ever Superclásico to take place in the Copa Libertadores final was always going to be difficult to live up to but thankfully for all onlookers, the match didn’t disappoint. An enthralling 2-2 draw between the fierce city rivals of Buenos Aires has only served to heighten interest ahead of the second leg in this two-legged final.

Boca Juniors were the bookies favourites ahead of kick-off, the current back-to-back Argentine Primera División champions last won the Copa Libertadores in 2007. River Plate, on the other hand, last lifted South America’s version of the Champions League only three years ago, in 2015. We take a closer look at how both teams approached arguably the most eagerly anticipated Copa Libertadores final in history.

Different approaches, similar limitations

Though they often play in a 4-4-2 setup, Guillermo Schelotto’s Boca Juniors make use of a variety of formations and can switch fluidly between them over different segments of a game. Schelotto deployed a 4-3-3 from the kick-off on Sunday, leaving star name Carlos Tevez on the bench, the Argentine legend has become somewhat of a bit-part player in the twilight years of his career. Boca’s 4-3-3 looked designed to provide width for the Azul y Oro with wingers Sebastián Villa and Christian Pavón key to their attacking intent.

From the early minutes of the match, Boca looked to control proceedings when in possession by making the pitch big, playing out from the back and using their wide men, Villa, in particular, to shuttle the ball up the pitch in transitions, often pinning River Plate back in their own half. Aggressive in a tackle but calm in possession, Colombian Wílmar Barrios sits deepest of the Xeneizes midfield.

Boca Juniors River Plate Copa Libertadores Tactical Analysis Statistics
Left-back Lucas Olaza receives the ball from his goalkeeper with space to advance into. River did not press too intently in the early stages of the game and Boca could expand and play short passes out from the back.
Boca Juniors River Plate Copa Libertadores Tactical Analysis Statistics
With the wingers holding very wide positions, Boca’s midfield three formed somewhat of a diamond shape with #9 Ábila at its head while Barrios sat deepest, controlling the rhythm for Schelotto’s side.
Boca Juniors River Plate Copa Libertadores Tactical Analysis Statistics
Though very few of his passes penetrated the opposition midfield, Wílmar Barrios controlled the tempo in the first half for Boca and rarely lost the ball. Combined with his tough tackling, Barrios’s passing style makes him the lynchpin of this Boca side and a potentially elite level holding midfielder, it’s no wonder Spurs are rumoured to be monitoring him closely.

Having the ball is only an asset if you can use it purposefully to hurt and/or frustrate your opponents, possession without purpose can render a team lifeless. For all of Boca’s good build-up play and width, a serious lack of attacking movement killed many decent passing moves and forward momentum.

Boca Juniors River Plate Copa Libertadores Tactical Analysis Statistics
As Barrios makes a penetrating midfield dribble, The River defence are aggressive in a man-to-man marking approach, creating huge gaps for Boca to exploit. But Barrios has no willing runners into said gaps, many potential opportunities to get beyond the River defensive line are lost here.
Boca Juniors River Plate Copa Libertadores Tactical Analysis Statistics
Again Boca’s spacing is intelligent and a quick combination of passes eventually frees Nandez in some space centrally.
Boca Juniors River Plate Copa Libertadores Tactical Analysis Statistics
But again no forward runners into the significant space between the River Plate backline and their goalkeeper leaves Nandez with very little options. A poorly executed ball out the on running right-back gives possession away cheaply.

River Plate boss, Marcelo Gallardo is also a proponent of the 4-4-2 formation but perhaps wisely in such a hostile environment and in such a huge game, began with a more cautious setup. River set their stall in a 3-5-2 formation, becoming 5 at the back in defensive phases. The back three were aggressive and disciplined, not giving Boca forwards time in possession and aggressively pressing any opposition forays into their half.

Boca Juniors River Plate Copa Libertadores Tactical Analysis Statistics
Wing-backs Montiel and Casco dropped deep in support of their defence when Boca were in possession. River Plate had two defensive midfielders as cover while Gonzalo Martinez played between the midfielders and strikers as a number 10.

Quick transitions were key to River’s success in this game, as soon as possession was won they looked to play the ball into the strike pair of Rafael Borré and Lucas Pratto. With Boca playing a back-four, the two strikers could occupy the two centre-backs while the wing backs provided width, either stretching the Boca defence or creating space in wide areas.

Boca Juniors River Plate Copa Libertadores Tactical Analysis Statistics
Against a back-four, the 3-5-2 can be devastating. The two strikers can often force the back-four to stay narrow and leave spaces out wide for wing-backs to take advantage of.

Chaos Rules

Besides a few decent long-range efforts and some half chances from set-pieces, neither side was having much success in terms of chance creation after a half an hour of play. Enter Ramón Ábila, the Boca striker has been prolific of late and while he may not possess elite technical ability, his aggression and physical prowess are utilised to great effect. The Argentine number 9 finally put a finish on a slick passing move from Boca Juniors in the 34th minute.

Boca Juniors River Plate Copa Libertadores Tactical Analysis Statistics
After a well-worked passing move from Boca found Ábila inside the box, the typically aggressive River defence looked to close him down in numbers.
Boca Juniors River Plate Copa Libertadores Tactical Analysis Statistics
River’s aggression was their downfall as the defenders slide on the ground, Ábila still stood when the ball rebounded back off the goalkeeper and the Boca striker hammered a second shot which Armani could only deflect into his own net.

It’s a good thing La Bombonera doesn’t have a roof because it would have needed replacing after Ábila’s strike, such was the level of noise from the home support. Boca were in front and deservedly so. But what looked set up to be a dominant display by Boca after the opening goal, took less than 10 seconds to dissolve into chaos.

Boca Juniors River Plate Copa Libertadores Tactical Analysis Statistics
Straight from the restart, the Boca midfield are holding their positions while their back-four behind them are in contrast, squeezing the space between themselves and their midfield. Boca’s defensive spacing is now too shallow and River take full advantage with a cutting through-ball.
Boca Juniors River Plate Copa Libertadores Tactical Analysis Statistics
Lucas Pratto was a beast for River Plate, physically dominant against his opposing centre-backs as well as scoring River’s first and having a large role in their second. Above he smartly finishes River Plate’s equaliser, merely seconds after Ábila’s opener.

Set pieces and an increasingly direct approach narrowed the pitch as the match wore on, both team’s second goals were a result of long-range free-kicks floated into the box among very deep defensive lines, needlessly inviting pressure instead of holding a higher line. Playing out from the back was mostly dispensed with as both teams became more compact and direct to limit the chances for defensive mistakes.

Boca Juniors River Plate Copa Libertadores Tactical Analysis Statistics
Shortly after retaking the lead, Boca made themselves narrow, looking to limit defensive exposure.

Having begun the game with differing formations, both teams chased a winner with mirroring 4-1-2-1-2 setups, the diamond formation. Full-backs pushed high in support while two strikers matched up against two centre-backs on either end of the pitch. One last chance fell the way of unmarked substitute Darío Benedetto in the 90th minute as Carlos Tevez squared the ball across the box but River Plate goalkeeper Franco Armani made himself big and blocked the low shot.

Boca Juniors River Plate Copa Libertadores Tactical Analysis Statistics
Boca Juniors River Plate Copa Libertadores Tactical Analysis Statistics

Intermission

La Bombonera played its part in creating an atmosphere worthy of the occasion. The roar of the Boca fans after Ábila’s opening strike was deafening, the passion of Argentinian football fans is inspiriting and infectious. While Boca may have edged proceedings in this first-leg, they cannot complain about the final result having failed to dominate the game. Two weeks, however, is more than sufficient time for Schelotto and his men to perfect their approach ahead of the second leg.

River Plate, on the other hand, got exactly what they came across town for, Gallardo’s men frustrated their rivals and capitalised on their opportunities. Should the El Monumental crowd reproduce the fever pitch of La Bombonera in the second leg, Los Millonarios will have the edge as they look to win their fourth ever Copa Libertadores trophy.

If this first encounter of two is an indication of things to come on November 24th, it will surely be the hottest ticket in world football this side of Christmas. Whether both teams alter their approaches in the second leg to be more tactically astute or if they simply let chaos reign, fight and spirit paramount in an end-to-end game, captivating entertainment and wild scenes are an absolute guarantee. Argentinian football has never had this global an audience.