It’s a timeless confrontation: Boca Juniors against River Plate. And if you think your derby is the most important (rightly or not), it is easily arguable that the Superclàsico encompasses all the other rivalries, including yours. The dispute over a city? Check. It’s Buenos Aires (everyone knows that ok). The class rivalry of Real Madrid-Atletico Madrid? Check. River Plate is said to be of the upper class, with its “Millionarios”, Boca of the people, the “xenizeires” (the Genoese, the immigrants). The antiquity of Inter-Milan? Check. The first unofficial confrontation goes back to 1908. The great names of a Real-Barca? Check, with Francescoli and Maradona first on the list. The underdog complex of a Liverpool-Everton? Check. Boca is usually seen as the most successful South American club, whereas River is mostly known because of the derby. The deaths of OM-PSG? Check. In 1968, 71 fans were killed by a crowd push within the stadium itself, and another 150 badly injured. Great international recognition of an Arsenal-Chelsea? Check, both teams have won multiple Copa Libertadores (the South American UCL) as well as Intercontinental Cups. Mythical stadiums of an Inter-Milan (or any other)? Check. River’s fans have their “Monumental”, which holds its name legitimately, and Boca’s have the Bombonera, known as one of the most atmospheric stadiums along with Rio’s Maracana. It is hard and improper to quantify passion, but the constantly jumping and chanting fans only testify for an endless one. Furthermore, every game starts about fifteen minutes late because game officials need about three laps to clear the pitch of projectiles, whether paper, lighters, phones, illegal or dangerous.
But the two Argentine superpowers have been going through some rough times and their domination of the league is but a mere memory, though not too far in time. The most self-explanatory fact is this: this year, none of the two teams are qualified for the Copa Libertadores, which hasn’t happened since 1992. On the Boca side, the lack of means to produce quality players and keep them has been singled out as a key reason. In fact, when was the last time we saw a player of Tevez’s or Riquelme’s statures come out of Boca? On the River side, a venomous intra mural fight for the presidency has drained the club psychologically, especially after eight disastrous years under Jose Maria Aguilar, who preferred to sell young talents just to have the stadium repainted (talk about football business). Although accused of fraud and corruption, 1978 and 1986 World Cup winner Daniel Passarella was elected president last December by the club’s Socio’s. Nothing much more is expected from him…
But the two Argentine superpowers have been going through some rough times and their domination of the league is but a mere memory, though not too far in time. The most self-explanatory fact is this: this year, none of the two teams are qualified for the Copa Libertadores, which hasn’t happened since 1992. On the Boca side, the lack of means to produce quality players and keep them has been singled out as a key reason. In fact, when was the last time we saw a player of Tevez’s or Riquelme’s statures come out of Boca? On the River side, a venomous intra mural fight for the presidency has drained the club psychologically, especially after eight disastrous years under Jose Maria Aguilar, who preferred to sell young talents just to have the stadium repainted (talk about football business). Although accused of fraud and corruption, 1978 and 1986 World Cup winner Daniel Passarella was elected president last December by the club’s Socio’s. Nothing much more is expected from him…
Hence, today, the Superclàsico was not crucial for the title, as it usually was. Boca, eighteenth, needs some points to evade a catastrophic relegation and River, eleventh, wants to catch up to speed to pass in the first of half to the table. But in this game, none of the three points or the standings count. Only victory against the supreme rival will be seen as worthy. In a wet and boiling Bombonera, both teams align a fairly anonymous team, centered around ex-European #10 rejects: Riquelme and Gallardo. After ten minutes, the referee postpones the game due to a torrential downpour that made the field impracticable. Neither of the teams wants to leave the field and both captains try to convince the ref to continue play. But not can do, and rightly so, Riquelme had lost the ball about ten times because it wouldn't even roll. Better that way, this article was getting long anyways. The fans still jump and chant, the only spectacle tonight.
TFO
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