This Sunday, Vélez Sarsfield celebrated a hard-fought victory against River Plate at El Fortín, clinching the match with a solitary goal. The decisive moment came in the 5th minute of the first half when Manuel Lanzini scored the only goal of the encounter.
Receiving a well-placed assist from Matías Pellegrini just outside the area, Lanzini unleashed a powerful strike that found the back of the net, beating goalkeeper Franco Armani at the right post.
Despite dominating possession with 61%, River Plate was unable to convert opportunities into goals, ultimately falling short against their rivals.
Manuel Lanzini stood out with an exemplary performance, not only scoring the vital goal but also completing 22 successful passes and taking three shots on target.
Defensively, Álvaro Montero was a key figure for Vélez, making five crucial saves and completing four passes, ensuring the clean sheet for his side.
Head coach Guillermo Barros Schelotto opted for a 4-5-1 tactical setup, featuring Álvaro Montero in goal; Joaquín García, Emanuel Mammana, Lisandro Magallán, and Elías Gómez in defense; Claudio Baeza, Lucas Robertone, Tobías Andrada, Manuel Lanzini, and Matías Pellegrini in midfield; with Florián Monzón leading the attack.
On the other hand, Marcelo Gallardo’s River Plate lined up in a 4-4-2 formation, with Franco Armani guarding the net; Gonzalo Montiel, Lucas Martínez Quarta, Paulo Díaz, and Matías Viña in defense; Fausto Vera, Aníbal Moreno, Tomás Galván, and Juan Fernando Quintero in midfield; and a striking duo of Facundo Colidio and Sebastián Driussi.
Referee Darío Herrera oversaw the match, ensuring the players adhered to the laws of the game.
In their next fixtures, Vélez will host Dep. Riestra, while River Plate will face Banfield at home.
Substitutions for Vélez
33’ 1H – Matías Pellegrini replaced by Álex Verón
63’ 2H – Florián Monzón replaced by Braian Romero
64’ 2H – Lucas Robertone replaced by Rodrigo Aliendro
76’ 2H – Manuel Lanzini replaced by Imanol Machuca
Yellow cards for Vélez:
43’ 1H – Guillermo Barros Schelotto
58’ 2H – Florián Monzón
Substitutions for River Plate
26’ 1H – Juan Fernando Quintero replaced by Joaquín Freitas
45’ 2H – Franco Armani replaced by Santiago Beltrán, Tomás Galván replaced by Kendry Páez
65’ 2H – Fausto Vera replaced by Giuliano Galoppo
69’ 2H – Kendry Páez replaced by Ian Subiabre
Yellow cards for River Plate:
17’ 1H – Paulo Díaz (Unsporting behavior)
51’ 2H – Matías Viña (Unsporting behavior)
86’ 2H – Gonzalo Montiel (Insulting or dissenting against the referee)