In Argentina, it is not called the Clasico as a "banal" Real-Barcelona but the "Superclasico". This is the match of the year in the land of world champions, the one between Boca Juniors and River Plate. A new edition of the derby between the two clubs of the capital Buenos Aires took place on May 7 in the Monumental stadium that bears its name. It was boiling hot.
The match counted for the 15th day of the Argentine championship between two teams on opposite dynamics: River Plate is in the lead while Boca Juniors is stuck in the depths of La Liga. But this match has a flavor that goes beyond the championship. If River Plate won 1-0, it was not in peace. The bright board turned in favour of River Plate after a penalty whistled in the 93rd minute of play, in added time, and converted by Miguel Borja. Only, the referee's decision does not have more to the fans of Boca. A general fight quickly formed on the pitch, mixing players and staff.
River Plate score on Boca Juniors and a melee ensues! đł pic.twitter.com/lHJsQnkPJq
â CBS Sports Golazo âœïž (@CBSSportsGolazo) May 7, 2023
The referee tried as best he could to separate the two formations. To achieve this, he had only one means at his disposal: boxes. He then drew no less than six reds! Both teams sent three players back to the bench each. The man in black also issued nine yellow cards.
đ„ł ÂĄGOL DE PENAL DE BORJA Y EL MONUMENTAL ESTALLĂ!
đ„ @catalinasarra pic.twitter.com/qMPriulrBs
â Diario OlĂ© (@DiarioOle) May 7, 2023
According to the first elements, it was the Boca goalkeeper who started the hostilities. Sergio Romero, the former Manchester United goalkeeper now in goal for Boca, claimed after the match that he had been pushed around by an opposing player. "Agustin Palavecino came to celebrate the goal shouting in his face," he said. I reacted well, I went to grab him by the waist and I told him why he was doing this. My teammates thought I was going to fight and they all came."
Everything then went into a tailspin: in a few seconds, the lawn of the Monumental turned into a boxing ring, where several players from both teams came to blows. Stewards and police intervened to separate the players: "It's not good for the show," said Enzo Perez, River's captain. A lot of people got involved on two sides: the staff, the substitutes... We tried to separate them and calm them down, but when there are so many people who shouldn't be on the field, especially with such nervousness, it's difficult. »
The match finally ended after 109 minutes of play with a crucial victory of River Plate (1-0), which remains leader of the Argentine championship nine points ahead of San Lorenzo the favorite club of Pope Francis, which has one game less. Boca Juniors is only 13th, 19 units behind its great rival