River Announces Squad: Pezzella, Two Youngsters In, Lencina Out
River coach Eduardo Coudet named a 23-player squad for the Sunday clash with Belgrano. The match opens a run of seven fixtures for the team in April.
Squad surprises and returns
The list contains notable inclusions and absences. Coudet has called up Germán Pezzella after his recovery from an ACL tear.
Juan Cruz Meza is back in the professional squad after just over six months out. The coach also has two youngsters in the list with Lautaro Pereyra earning his first senior call-up.
Both Meza and Pereyra were promoted from the reserve team led by Marcelo Escudero. Pereyra joined the group after participating in the mini pre-season at Cardales.
Injuries and suspensions
Santiago Lencina is not in the squad this time. The situation can be described simply as Lencina out of the call-up.
Gonzalo Montiel remains sidelined with a grade 1 hamstring strain. He suffered the injury against Estudiantes de Río Cuarto two weeks ago.
Marcos Acuña misses the game due to accumulation of five yellow cards. He is suspended for the match.
Possible lineup and standings stakes
Coudet listed a probable starting eleven that mixes experience and youth. The squad includes names expected to start and several rotational options.
- Santiago Beltrán
- Fabricio Bustos, Lucas Martínez Quarta, Lautaro Rivero, Matías Viña
- Aníbal Moreno, Fausto Vera, Tomás Galván
- Quintero or Freitas or Páez
- Subiabre or Salas, Sebastián Driussi
A victory would lift River to second in the first classification with 23 points. That result would leave them three points behind leader Independiente Rivadavia and three points adrift in Zone B.
Match details and broadcast
The game is scheduled for Sunday, April 5, at 18:00 at the Estadio Monumental. It corresponds to matchday 13 of the Torneo Apertura.
Television coverage will be on TNT Sports, through the football package. Fans can also follow the broadcast via La Página Millonaria’s YouTube channel, with commentary by Renzo Pantich.
Live text updates and minute-by-minute coverage will be available on Filmogaz.com. The sides last met in May 2024, when River won 3-0 under Martín Demichelis.
