Argentinos Juniors vs River Plate: High-stakes clash underway in La Paternal as Gallardo resets the XI
On Thursday, February 12, 2026 (ET), Argentinos Juniors and River Plate are underway in a charged fifth-round meeting of the Torneo Apertura at La Paternal. River enters under heavy pressure after a 4-1 setback last time out, while the hosts aim to turn an uneven start into a signature result at home.
Gallardo’s bold reshuffle to steady the ship
With confidence shaken by the defeat to Tigre, River manager Marcelo Gallardo has made a clear statement through selection and system. The visitors have shifted shape and introduced young center forward Agustín Ruberto from the start, with Maxi Salas and Facundo Colidio making way. Juan Fernando Quintero wears the captain’s armband and is tasked with orchestrating the attack from a free role behind the striker. The veteran first-choice goalkeeper is absent from the matchday group, with a planned return earmarked for domestic cup action, placing responsibility on Santiago Beltrán between the posts.
River’s starting XI features Gonzalo Montiel and Marcos Acuña as the full-back bookends, Lucas Martínez Quarta and Lautaro Rivero at center back, a central unit anchored by Aníbal Moreno and Kevin Castaño with Giuliano Galoppo and Tomás Galván offering forward thrust, and Quintero supplying creativity for Ruberto up top. The emphasis is on restoring balance, quick vertical transitions, and cleaner progression into the final third after lapses in structure exposed the team a week ago.
Argentinos’ intensity at home meets a River in search of order
Argentinos Juniors, led by Nicolás Diez, have built their identity on intensity, a high press, and aggressive tempo—an approach that often finds an extra gear in La Paternal. Their lineup includes Brayan Cortés in goal; a defensive base with Leandro Lozano, Erik Godoy, and Mateo Coronel; midfield craft from Nicolás Oroz; the engine room of Federico Fattori, Alan Lescano, and Emiliano Viveros; and the creativity and punch of Hernán López Muñoz alongside Tomás Molina in attack. While their early-season form has been uneven, the Bicho are known to disrupt opponents with synchronized pressure and quick midfield turnovers, a test for River’s rebuilt structure.
Quintero’s leadership, Ruberto’s leap—and a debut watch
Quintero shoulders a leadership burden in more ways than one. The playmaker was one of the few bright sparks in River’s last outing and now steps into an elevated role to dictate rhythm and lift teammates through possession and set pieces. Ruberto’s inclusion at center forward is both a nod to form and a message: River intend to attack space and finish moves with presence in the box. On the bench, Ecuadorian talent Kendry Páez draws intrigue as a potential second-half option, with the expectation that his pace and daring in tight spaces could tilt the narrative if introduced.
What’s on the line in Zone B
River start the night fourth in their group on seven points, behind Independiente Rivadavia, Tigre, and Belgrano. The standings compress quickly in this stage, but the context extends beyond the table. The manner of response—defensive cohesion, midfield control, attacking clarity—will weigh heavily on the perception of River’s trajectory. For Argentinos, a home win would reinforce their blueprint and inject momentum into an inconsistent opening stretch.
Recent history and a familiar battleground
La Paternal has not been kind to River in their last two league visits during the preceding managerial cycle, both ending in defeats. Yet Gallardo arrives with a personal record at this ground that offers encouragement: no losses across four previous visits as a manager, with three wins and a draw. This venue also holds a key memory for River, who clinched a Copa Libertadores 2021 quarterfinal berth here with a 2-0 victory powered by a Braian Romero brace. Those threads add layers to a fixture that often hinges on control of the midfield press and the first decisive moment in either box.
The early tone: nerves, duels, and the middle third
From the opening exchanges, the tone centers on second balls, composure under pressure, and how River’s reworked spine handles Argentinos’ push in the middle third. If River can progress through Moreno and Castaño without coughing up central turnovers, Quintero’s influence should grow, allowing width for overlapping full-backs and late runs from Galoppo and Galván. For the hosts, quick switches of play and timed entries from López Muñoz test River’s new-look back line and the channel between full-back and center back—zones that were problematic a week ago.
With a tense backdrop and a tactical reset in motion, the contest in La Paternal carries implications that stretch beyond three points. The visitors are playing for equilibrium and belief; the hosts, for statement and surge. The margins, as ever here, are slim.
