River Plate will travel to Asunción to face Libertad on Thursday night at 21:30 local time in the first leg of the Copa Libertadores round of 16. The match will be played at La Huerta, a 15,000-seat venue, where about 3,500 River supporters have already snapped up tickets.
After a stretch of injuries, River arrives with some good news. Paulo Díaz has recovered from left knee synovitis and will be available for the clash. Sebastián Driussi and Juan Portillo also have the medical green light, boosting a squad that has been hit in defense. With several defensive options out, teenager Ulises Giménez travels with the team, and Díaz’s partner in central defense is expected to be Sebastián Boselli, who stepped in for Germán Pezzella after his ACL injury. Lautaro Rivero is not included on the Copa roster.
In terms of the rest of the lineup, River’s goalkeeper will be Franco Armani. The full-backs are Gonzalo Montiel and Marcos Acuña. In midfield, Kevin Castaño, Enzo Pérez, and Marcos Galarza are in midfield roles, while in attack all eyes are on whether Gallardo keeps Miguel Borja in the starting XI and whether Santiago Lencina remains in the plans or is replaced by Juan Fernando Quintero. Facundo Colidio is considered a fixed starter.
Libertad, meanwhile, will be missing their starting goalkeeper Rodrigo Morínigo due to a muscle tear sustained in their most recent Liga Paraguaya game, with questions also surrounding Robert Rojas and left-back Matías Espinoza.
The referee for the night is Wilton Sampaio of Brazil, a figure who has sparked controversy in the recent past. The last time he took charge of a River tie, in the 2019 Libertadores semifinals against Boca Juniors, his decisions drew sharp criticism from River and coach Marcelo Gallardo. Gallardo has cooled his tone, but he did say he hopes Sampaio has reflected on that performance. The River squad had to lodge about 30 kilometers from Asunción due to hotel shortages created by the Pan American Junior Games Asunción 2025.
What to watch for: River are back at near full strength with Díaz, Driussi, and Portillo available, and Colidio a constant in attack. The tactical duel is expected to be tight, with Libertad likely leaning on local rhythm and River aiming to control the tempo and set up for the second leg. The Reds will also look to exploit any gaps behind Libertad’s defense, while avoiding the risk of giving away a away-leg disadvantage in the return match.
Summary note: This first-leg clash sets the stage for a decisive second leg, with River carrying optimism from recent returns and a wealth of Libertadores knockout experience, while Libertad will seek a strong home performance to swing the tie in their favor.
Additional comments: Expect a disciplined, possession-based approach from River, balanced by Libertad’s willingness to press high and counter. The mental edge from past Libertadores battles and Gallardo’s adaptability could prove crucial as both teams seek to seize momentum early.