CONMEBOL River Plate (Argentina)
River Plate reached the Final of Copa Libertadores via a tense and close-fought semi-final encounter with fierce rivals Boca Juniors. They won the first leg at home, 2-0, and managed to cling to their advantage despite Boca winning 1-0 in the second leg.
River Plate have won their domestic top-flight league a record 36 times but not since 2014. Their overall trophy total is a record 47 and to put into perspective their dominance in Argentinian football they are top of the All Time Argentinian Primera Division table with;
Most wins, fewest defeats, most points, most goals scored and least goals conceded and they are the only club to hold, simultaneously, all four CONMEBOL international competitions.
PLAYERS
Leonardo Ponzio, a defensive midfielder is one of the most decorated River Plate players, ever. He is a full international but last played for Argentina in 2013. He has won the Copa Libertadores twice, in 2015 and 2018 and has amassed more than 500 career club games.
Lucas Pratto is a powerful striker who is fast and technically excellent and while not exactly prolific his average of approximately one goal every three games stands up to scrutiny. Lucas became the most expensive signing in River Plate history when he signed from Sao Paulo in January 2018 for 11.5 million euros. He promptly vindicated the investment by his new employers by scoring in each leg of the Copa Libertadores Final to defeat Boca Juniors.
COACH
Marcelo Gallardo is quite simply the most successful River Plate coach, ever. The former Argentina attacking midfielder played in two World Cup final tournaments for his country in a career spanning nine years. His mantle as the most successful coach in club history is even more remarkable when one considers he only started at the club in 2014! He began his River Plate managerial career by equaling the club`s all-time unbeaten run record. In 2015 he took the team to the World Club Cup Final where they lost to Barcelona. His first domestic trophy came in 2015-16 and this year River Plate won the Recopa Sudamericana, a 10th trophy as their manager plus seven international trophies.
