River Plate Vs. Godoy Cruz: Visitors Secure Impressive Comeback Victory

River Plate are up 1-0 on Godoy Cruz at halftime from Estadio Monumental, but that’s not the real story right now in Argentina, incredibly. Despite the fact that there’s a very good match going on between two teams at the top half of the table, the real drama is taking place on another side of town at Estadio José Amalfitani, where Velez Sarsfield, the Clausura’s leaders, are down 3-1 to Quilmes, one of the worst teams in the division.

Inexplicably, substitute Pablo Vasquez scored twice in two minutes in the second half for Quilmes, as the Velez defense completely fell apart. Meanwhile, Estudiantes La Plata have fallen 2-0 to Colon, and the former leaders have now completely lost touch with the front of the pack.

River Plate are a team noted for their defense so far in the 2011 Clausura, allowing only four goals while scoring just nine. However, their lineup looks like an entertaining and attacking one tonight, and they should be able to create chances against a Godoy Cruz side who has been just the opposite so far this year; potent offensively, but mediocre defensively.

River is playing an attack-minded 3-4-2-1 formation, with their most recognizable star players at the moment, Diego Buonanotte and Erik Lamela playing behind a central striker. Godoy Cruz appear to be playing a more orthodox (at least by the standards of the Anglo football world) 4-4-2 setup. River should be the better team in the middle, but the opportunity will be there for Godoy Cruz to exploit them down the flanks. Here are your lineups.

Both Godoy Cruz and River Plate look like possible title contenders early in the 2011 Clausura, but both teams are far from complete. River Plate have some decent veteran forwards and a budding star in the middle in Erik Lamela, but they’re lacking the firepower to be considered a surefire title contender. Godoy Cruz appear to have all of the offense required to win the Clausura, but their defense is what most would consider to be substandard. Tonight, at 6 pm ET at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires, something has to give.

Uruguayan forward Alvaro Navarro was disappointing in the last tournament for Gimnasia La Plata after a few successful years at Defensor Sporting, but he’s shined early on in the Clausura for Godoy Cruz. At River, all eyes are on Lamela, who many are calling on to make the national side shortly.