River Plate vs. Boca Juniors, 2012 Super Clasico: Walter Erviti nets stunning equalizer

To be filed under: Yes, this really happened.

The Superclasico is back and it is as wonderful as ever! After a 17 month break thanks to River Plate’s relegation, Argentina’s two biggest clubs have revived one of the world’s greatest rivalries. That is when inflatable pigs aren’t getting in the way.

Boca Juniors and River Plate haven’t met in the Argentine Primera for 17 months, and this edition of the Super Clasico might end up getting even more chippy than most as a result. Unsurprisingly, both managers have selected their most experienced and composed players over younger, more talented options.

Boca have rotated players in their No. 10 slot in the absence of Juan Roman Riquelme and have picked the most veteran option for this match, 26-year-old Cristian Chávez. River have picked David Trezeguet up top, even though he has just one goal this year and was in France for personal reasons earlier this week.

For the first time in 17 months, River Plate and Boca Juniors will meet at the Monumental on Sunday afternoon. Perhaps the most intense derby in world football, Argentina’s Super Clasico, has been put on hold for the longest time in its history due to River’s stunning relegation. The return of the match signals a real return to normalcy for River, who won’t feel all the way back to their previous stature until they beat their closest rivals.

Neither team is in the title race, with Boca trailing Newell’s Old Boys by eight points and River trailing by 11, but both teams are in contention for Copa Libertadores places. While it might sting both at the end of the year if they fail to make the tournament, that won’t be on their minds on Sunday. No matter what, if there is an outright winner on Sunday, that team will feel like their Apertura was a successful one.