03/14/2021 10:00
Clarín.com
sports
Updated 03/14/2021 10:00
Among the
many successes
Marcelo Gallardo
in nearly seven years leading to the front of the professional team football
River Plate
, you can prove that as a
coach almost
never
went
loser
of
La Bombonera
, the stadium of
Boca Juniors
land, which only once did he chew anger since, on the contrary, he got used to partying.
When he takes to the field with his team this Sunday, March 14, 2473 days will have passed since the most successful coach in the history of River Plate began his work, in the construction of an era that has already given him twelve titles, seven international and five locals.
Marcelo Gallardo began his path as
River's
coach
on June 6, 2014, and stepped on La Bombonera for the first time on November 20 of the same year, in the first leg of the semifinals of the South American Cup, which ended tied 0-0.
Marcelo Gallardo's first visit to La Bombonera as a coach, on November 20, 2014. (AFP)
That meeting was marked by the rigor with which
Gallardo's
team came out to play
, which was pleased with the referee Silvio Trucco.
One of the most remembered actions is the injury that Leonel Vangioni caused to Juan Manuel Martínez, after a violent infraction that was worthy of a red card, which did not happen.
In the rematch, the
Millionaire
won 1 to 0 with a goal from Leonardo Pisculichi in a tournament in which he would end up crowning in the final against Atlético Nacional de Medellín.
The second time that the
Doll
went to the
Boca
court
as a coach, it was also the only time in which he retired defeated.
It was on the eleventh date of the 2015 First Division Championship, a contest that was going to be left to
Xeneize,
although in a context that was not unfavorable for the
Millionaire
.
That May 3, 2015,
Boca
won the Superclásico with a 2-0 sealed with goals from Cristian Pavón and Pablo Pérez.
That team led by Rodolfo Arruabarrena was established in the local tournament, but that match with
River
took place in the prelude to the clashes for the Copa Libertadores that ended with the sad episode of the pepper spray attack on the
Millionaire
players
in
La Bombonera
.
It was eleven days later when
River
and
Gallardo
returned to La Boca.
They had won 1 to 0 at the Monumental with a penalty from Carlos Sánchez, and the Libertadores round of 16 series was resolved at the rival's stadium.
Marcelo Gallardo with his players after the pepper spray attack on May 14, 2015. (AFP)
After a first half of even tone but with
River
better positioned than
Boca
, when the teams returned from the changing rooms for the second stage, a scene of madness occurred: a fan, identified as Adrián Napolitano (alias el Panadero) threw pepper spray at them.
Millionaire
players
when they got into their sleeve to access the playing field.
The match, which was 0 to 0, was suspended and then Conmebol gave Núñez's team a 3-0 win on the desk. River was going to win that
Libertadores
, the first of the two achieved in the
Gallardo
era.
.
On April 24, 2016 it was played again in
La Bombonera
after the pepper spray episode.
11 minutes into the game, Pablo Pérez was sent off by referee Darío Herrera after kicking Colombian Eder Álvarez Balanta in the stomach and it seemed that this could twist the duel in favor of
River
.
Marcelo Gallardo touches the River shield facing the Boca popular tribune in La Bombonera.
(AFP)
But
Gallardo's
team
could not find the return to the match or take advantage of the red at the wheel and the absence of Fernando Gago, who at the end of the first half left the field of play due to pain.
Hours later it was confirmed that
Pintita
was breaking her Achilles tendon, once again against the Millionaire.
On May 14, 2017, River won 3 to 1 with goals from Gonzalo Martínez, Lucas Alario and Sebastián Driussi, and Fernando Gago's free kick discount with great responsibility from goalkeeper Augusto Batalla.
That defeat on date 24 did not prevent
Boca
, led by Guillermo Barros Schelotto, from being consecrated in the 2016-17 First Division championship.
On the sixth date of the
2018-19
Super League
, on September 23, 2018, River achieved its last victory in
La Bombonera
: a 2-0 with goals from Gonzalo Martínez and Ignacio Scocco, in a contest that was going to see the champion at Racing Club by Eduardo Coudet.
Marcelo Gallardo celebrates on September 23, 2018, in his second win at La Bombonera.
(AFP)
On November 11, 2018, the first final of the
Libertadores
was played,
which was to be defined at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in Madrid.
That Sunday afternoon,
Boca
and
River
equaled 2 to 2, with goals from Ramón Ábila and Darío Benedetto for the local, while Lucas Pratto and Carlos Izquierdoz (against) did so for the visitor.
Gallardo
could not be on the
Boca
court
, since he was suspended by
Conmebol
: the game was directed by Matías Biscay and the coach followed him on television from the
Monumental
.
As soon as it finished, the coach celebrated it as a triumph with the fans.
The coach returned to
La Bombonera
on October 22, 2019, to play the rematch of the
Libertadores
semifinals
:
River
had won 2 to 0 at the Monumental and qualified for the final after losing 1 to 0 as a visitor, with a both marked by the Venezuelan Jon Hurtado.
Then, the team led by Marcelo Gallardo was going to fall in the final against Flamengo at the National Stadium in Lima, Peru.
The last crossing in
La Boca
was another 2 to 2, on January 2 in the
Diego Maradona Cup
that was going to end up winning the Xeneize: Ramón Ábila opened the scoring for the local;
Federico Girotti and Rafael Santos Borré put
Marcelo Gallardo's
team ahead
, and Sebastián Villa gave the local equalizer five minutes before closing.
In total,
River de Gallardo
played nine games in
La Bombonera
, from where they took two wins, five draws and two defeats, although only one of them represented a true fall.
Therefore, the
Doll
can say that it stomps in the rival territory.
