River Plate is gearing up for its debut in the Club World Cup against Urawa Red Diamonds on Tuesday, November 17, at 4 PM (Brasília time). Coach Marcelo Gallardo appears poised to stick with the core lineup that has performed well recently, avoiding significant alterations to the starting eleven.
One of the most discussed topics leading up to the match has been the participation of young talent Franco Mastantuono, who was recently sold to Real Madrid. During a press conference, Gallardo downplayed concerns about the player’s involvement, suggesting that Mastantuono would likely start if fit.
Gallardo stated, “I will manage emotions just as I have been. The kid is eager to play; he shows me his willingness every day. We won’t overcomplicate things. He will play if he is well and ready. This is what comes from outside; we don’t need drama. We support him and are with him.”
The expected lineup for River Plate appears to include Mastantuono and Nacho Fernández in midfield, with a key highlight being the return of world champion Gonzalo Montiel from injury. Up front, the duo of Facundo Colidio and Sebastián Driussi is likely to continue.
On the opposing side, Urawa Reds coach Maciej Skorża is expected to field a consistent lineup as well, aiming to leverage the skills of Brazilian players Danilo Boza and Matheus Sávio to challenge the Argentine side.
The anticipated lineups for both teams are as follows:
**River Plate (Expected):** Franco Armani; Gonzalo Montiel, Germán Pezzella, Paulo Díaz, and Marcos Acuña; Enzo Pérez and Kevin Castaño; Nacho Fernández and Franco Mastantuono; Facundo Colidio and Sebastián Driussi. Head Coach: Marcelo Gallardo.
**Urawa Reds (Expected):** Shusaku Nishikawa; Takuya Ogiwara, Marius Høibråten, Danilo Boza, and Hirokazu Ishihara; Ryoma Watanabe, Samuel Gustafson, and Kaito Yasui; Yusuke Matsuo, Matheus Sávio, and Takuro Kaneko. Head Coach: Maciej Skorza.
This matchup holds both excitement and anticipation for fans, as it marks a significant moment for River Plate in an international competition. The coexistence of experienced players and promising youngsters like Mastantuono could very well be the key to their success in this tournament.