Argentine Primera División Showdown: River Plate Hosts San Martin SJ Seeking to Rebound and Climb Table
Argentine giants River Plate will host newly-promoted San Martin de San Juan. River Plate has been struggling recently and desperately needs a victory to regain momentum, while San Martin de San Juan is fighting for survival in the relegation zone, making every match crucial. This game will significantly impact both teams' league standings and fate.
Match Background & Qualification Scenarios
The 2025 Argentine Primera División (Liga Profesional de Fútbol) season is currently in full swing. This match will take place at River Plate's home ground, Estadio Mâs Monumental in Buenos Aires [7]. For the home team, River Plate, a traditional powerhouse in the Argentine top flight, they are currently experiencing their most challenging period under manager Marcelo Gallardo's second stint [24, 9]. Despite their elimination from the FIFA Club World Cup group stage and tactical inconsistencies in the domestic league [24], River Plate remains a strong contender for the league title and Copa Libertadores qualification [17, 23].
Conversely, the visiting team, San Martin de San Juan, is one of the newly promoted teams from the Primera Nacional this season, indicating their less established position in the top flight [23]. In the Argentine Primera División, relegation is determined by a three-year average points system, placing immense pressure on newly-promoted teams like San Martin de San Juan, where every point is vital for their survival [18, 23]. The outcome of this match will not only affect both teams' immediate standings but could also be pivotal for San Martin de San Juan's relegation battle, while River Plate aims to return to winning ways and solidify their position in the title race and for international qualification.
Recent Form
River Plate's recent form over their last five official matches has been mixed. In the Argentine Primera División, they drew 1-1 away against Lanús [14, 39] and secured a 4-2 home victory over Godoy Cruz [14]. In the Copa Libertadores, River Plate defeated Libertad 4-2 at home and played to a goalless draw away against the same opponent [14]. Their most recent fixture saw them draw 0-0 against Unión in the Copa Argentina, eventually winning on penalties [39]. Overall, River Plate has recorded two wins and three draws (one via penalty shootout victory) in their last five outings, remaining undefeated.
The visiting side, San Martin de San Juan, has shown some resilience in their recent form. In their last Argentine Primera División match, they secured a narrow 1-0 home win against Gimnasia [36, 39]. Prior to that, they drew 0-0 away to Talleres [36] but lost 0-1 at home to Sarmiento [36]. Earlier, they drew 0-0 away to Rosario Central and clinched a 3-2 home victory over Deportivo Riestra [36]. Across these five matches, San Martin de San Juan has a record of two wins, two draws, and one loss, demonstrating their ability to pick up points even in challenging fixtures.
Key Players & Injury News
River Plate will be facing significant injury concerns. Forward Agustín Ruberto is expected to be out until September 7 due to a cruciate ligament tear [26, 40]. Defender Germán Pezzella also suffered a cruciate ligament tear and is anticipated to return in April 2026 [26, 40]. Furthermore, Maximiliano Meza and Maximiliano Salas are sidelined with knee injuries, while Lucas Martínez Quarta's knee injury will keep him out until late September [26, 27, 40]. Paulo Diaz and Juan Carlos Portillo are also unavailable due to injuries [40]. These absences significantly impact River Plate's defensive line and attacking depth. Despite this, River Plate still boasts key players such as Franco Armani, Gonzalo Montiel, Kevin Castaño, Ignacio Fernández, Miguel Borja, and Facundo Colidio, who will be central to the team's efforts to secure a victory [39, 40].
On San Martin de San Juan's side, the injury situation is relatively less severe, but key player Horacio Tijanovich will be absent due to suspension, and Federico González is also unavailable due to injury [40]. San Martin de San Juan's lineup will likely feature Matías Borgogno in goal, with a defense comprising Ayrton Portillo, Luciano Recalde, Rodrigo Cáseres, and Lucas Diarte. The midfield will include Nicolás Watson, Sebastián Jaurena, and Marco Iacobellis, while the attack will depend on Ignacio Maestro Puch [39, 40]. Their performance will be crucial for the team's ability to challenge a strong opponent away from home and fight for valuable points in their bid to avoid relegation.