The group led by Marcelo Gallardo, It reached the semifinal phase in six of the nine editions played under the leadership of “Muñeco” and thus managed to be the club as the team that reached the semifinals of the tournament the most times, with 21 participations.
This is how River fared in the last five Copa Libertadores semi-finals it played:
In 2015, River returned to this phase after years of absence, facing Guarani. The team of Gallant surpassed the Paraguayan team with an aggregate of 3-1winning 2-0 in Buenos Aires and tying 1-1 in Assumption.
This victory took them to the final, where they became champions against Tigers of Mexicogiving way to the beginning of a glorious stage in international competitions, which had already begun the previous year with obtaining the South American Cup in view of National Athletic of Medellin.
However, in 2017 the scene changed. In a semi-final against Lanus, River They seemed to have everything under control after a 3-0 lead on aggregate, but “Granate” achieved a historic comeback, winning 4-3 on aggregate and eliminating the “Muñeco” team.
This result was one of the most painful of the era Gallantleaving the club without the possibility of playing its second final in three years.
But in 2018, River He sought revenge and found it against Guild. After a 0-1 defeat in the Monumental, River traveled to Brazil and, with an agonizing goal Gonzalo “Pity” Martínezqualified for the final with a 2-2 aggregate draw, but favored by the away goal rule.
This classification allowed them to face the eternal rival Mouthin a historic final, being the last one that was going to be played in a round-trip format, where after tying 2-2 in the candy boxthe match in Monumental could not be played after conflicts off the field with the “Millonarios” fans and the bus that transported the “Xeneize”, which led to the final Madrid, Spainwhere he became champion in extra time with a total of 5-3.
The edition of 2019 He faced them again Mouth. In an exciting crossroads, River won 2-0 in it Monumentaland although they lost 1-0 in the candy boxadvanced to the final with a 2-1 aggregate.
However, in the final of that year, Flamengo He took the title from them with a dramatic comeback in the last five minutes with two goals from Gabriel “Gabigol” Barbosa.
Finally, in 2020, River was measured against Palmeiraswhere after a resounding defeat 3-0 in Buenos Airesthe team Gallant It was for the heroic Brazilwhere he was about to achieve it, but after a goal disallowed to Gonzalo Montielhis victory 2-0 It was not enough to reverse the overall result, leaving them out of their third consecutive final.
Now River the first leg of the semifinals of the Libertadores Cup with your risk visit, in Brazilto face Atlético Mineiro this Tuesday.
The meeting will take place at Arena MRV stadium of Belo Horizonte from 9:30 p.m., where the “Millonario” will seek the fourth final of Libertadores Cup in the era Gallant.
Source: Ambito
