River Plate Beats Tigres 3-0 to Win Copa Libertadores

Tigres visit River at El Monumental in Buenos Aires in the second leg of the final of South America’s elite club competition on Wednesday after a 0-0 draw in the first leg.

And to get you in the mood, here are highlights from the last time River Plate won this tournament back in 1996….

River is gunning to win the Libertadores for a third time, but it will have to do so without coach Marcelo Gallardo and full-back Gabriel Mercado. Trailing 2-0, the Argentinian giants found themselves bottom of the section and facing an early exit from a competition they have won only twice, the last of those occasions coming almost 20 years ago.

“We have good feelings about the game, no matter which player is on the pitch, the match will be unique and memorable, to have the chance and the willing to win”, he said. “The squad has sacrificed a lot”. “And we are going for more”.

Tigres had been bidding to become the first side from Mexico ever to win the Copa Libertadores.

A full-blooded opening period saw some wild tackles flying in from both sides, Alario setting the tone after only nine minutes with a rugged challenge on Guido Pizarro which earned the River striker a booking.

Tigres have lost central defender Hugo Ayala for Wednesday’s match with a fractured foot but their France striker Andre-Pierre Gignac has recovered from a toe injury he suffered in the first leg. Their hopes of progressing depended on them taking maximum points in that match and on group winners Tigres also beating Juan Aurich in Peru, though a draw in Chiclayo may also have been enough for River, depending on goal difference.

Lucas Alario gave the hosts the lead on the stroke of half-time by latching onto Leonel Vangioni’s low pass with a diving header that flew beyond the outstretched arms of Nahuel Guzman.

Sanchez drove into the penalty area from the right and was clumsily brought down by Javier Aquino.

The result was put beyond doubt 11 minutes from time when Ramiro Funes Mori headed in Leonardo Pisculichi’s cross following a corner.