Efficient, controlled, and ultimately decisive
En el estadio Monumental, River Plate cerró una noche de fútbol pragmático con una victoria 2-0 sobre Gimnasia que los llevó a las semifinales del Apertura 2026. No fue una actuación de aquellas que quedan grabadas en la memoria por su belleza, sino por su eficacia: el equipo de Coudet encontró los goles en los momentos justos, resistió las adversidades y avanzó con paso firme. En el deporte, como en tantas cosas, saber ganar sin brillar es también una forma de grandeza.
- La noche arrancó con una alarma: Gonzalo Montiel se lesionó en el calentamiento y Acuña también salió en el primer tiempo, poniendo a prueba la profundidad del plantel millonario.
- La polémica no tardó en aparecer: el codazo de Miramón sobre Viña, que el árbitro Rey Hilfer castigó solo con amarilla tras revisar el VAR, dejó a Gimnasia con once hombres cuando muchos esperaban diez.
- Santiago Beltrán se convirtió en el muro que Gimnasia no pudo derribar, con atajadas decisivas —incluyendo una al palo y un rebote peligroso— que mantuvieron intacta la ventaja local.
- Driussi (27') y Martínez Quarta (60') marcaron los goles que sellaron el resultado, el primero con un remate de zurda y el segundo con un cabezazo tras el centro de Freitas.
- River avanza a semifinales para enfrentar a Rosario Central, en lo que muchos ya consideran la mejor versión del equipo en la era Coudet.
River salió del Monumental el miércoles por la noche con el arco en cero y el pasaje a semifinales en el bolsillo. El 2-0 sobre Gimnasia no fue un despliegue de fútbol vistoso —hubo tramos donde el equipo perdió el hilo y los pases no encontraron destino— pero fue eficiente y, en última instancia, contundente. Sebastián Driussi abrió el marcador en el minuto 27 con un remate de zurda tras un sutil pase en profundidad de Colidio, y Luciano Martínez Quarta cerró la cuenta en el 60 con un cabezazo tras el centro de Joaquín Freitas desde la izquierda.
La noche no estuvo exenta de contratiempos. Montiel se lesionó en el calentamiento y Acuña salió en el primer tiempo con una molestia muscular, forzando dos cambios antes del descanso. A eso se sumó la polémica: el codazo de Miramón sobre Viña, que el árbitro optó por castigar solo con amarilla tras revisar el VAR, generó malestar en el Monumental. Gimnasia llegó al entretiempo con once jugadores y el partido aún abierto.
En el segundo tiempo, Gimnasia salió a buscar el empate y encontró en Beltrán su principal obstáculo. El arquero millonario respondió con una serie de atajadas notables, incluyendo una al palo y otra tras un rebote peligroso, que mantuvieron la ventaja intacta. Cuando Martínez Quarta marcó el segundo, el partido quedó definido. En el tramo final, con el resultado asegurado, River cedió algo de terreno, pero Beltrán volvió a aparecer cuando fue necesario. El pitazo final encontró a River clasificado para enfrentar a Rosario Central en semifinales, en lo que muchos consideran la mejor actuación del equipo en la era Coudet.
River walked out of the Monumental on Wednesday night with a clean sheet and a ticket to the semifinals. The 2-0 victory over Gimnasia was not a display of brilliance—there were stretches where the home side lost the thread, where passes went astray, where the rhythm stuttered—but it was efficient, controlled, and ultimately decisive. Sebastián Driussi opened the scoring in the 27th minute with a left-footed strike from inside the box, and Luciano Martínez Quarta added a second in the 60th, heading home after a cross from Joaquín Freitas. The goals came from the kind of buildup play that defines Coudet's tenure: patient movement, width, and precision in the final third.
The night began with a setback. Gonzalo Montiel, the regular right-back, suffered an injury during the warm-up and did not take the field. Fabricio Bustos stepped in as his replacement. Once the match began, River seized control immediately. The opening goal arrived when Facundo Colidio played a delicate chip into the box for Driussi, who turned and fired past the goalkeeper with his left foot. The Monumental erupted. Minutes later, Marcos Acuña limped off with a muscular complaint and was replaced by Matías Viña. Gimnasia's Miramón then threw an elbow at Viña late in the first half—a challenge that looked worthy of a red card—but referee Leandro Rey Hilfer, after consultation with the VAR, chose only to caution him. The decision allowed Gimnasia to remain at full strength heading into the second half, though River's lead stood at 1-0.
The second period began with Gimnasia pressing for an equalizer, but River's goalkeeper Santiago Beltrán proved equal to the task. He made a series of sharp saves, including a diving stop at the near post and a reaction save after a header that struck the crossbar. Coudet made his adjustments around the hour mark, bringing on fresh legs in midfield and attack. The second goal followed almost immediately. Martínez Quarta carried the ball forward, found Freitas on the left wing, and Freitas delivered a precise cross for the center-back to head home. The lead was now two, and the match was effectively decided.
In the closing stages, with the outcome secure, River relaxed their grip on possession. Gimnasia created several chances to pull one back, but Beltrán's excellence in goal—he was among the standout performers of the evening—kept them at bay. A late header from Panaro struck the post, and the rebound fell to a Gimnasia player, but Beltrán was there again. The final whistle came with River having weathered the pressure and advanced to face Rosario Central in the semifinals. It was not a masterclass, but it was a performance that got the job done when it mattered most.
Citas Notables
River played one of their best matches under Coudet, eliminating Gimnasia with a dominant performance— Match summary
La Conversación del Hearth Otra perspectiva de la historia
What made this performance different from River's other wins this season?
It wasn't flashy, but it was complete. They controlled the game from the opening minute, scored from good buildup play, and didn't panic when Gimnasia pushed back. Under Coudet, that's become the signature—not dazzling, but reliable.
The Montiel injury seemed to disrupt things early. How much did that matter?
It forced a change, but Bustos handled it well enough. The real test came later when Acuña had to come off. By then, though, River had already scored and had the rhythm. Gimnasia never really threatened until the second half.
Beltrán made several crucial saves. Is he the difference-maker here?
He was excellent, no question. But the bigger story is that River didn't need him to be a hero. They were organized enough that Gimnasia didn't create clear-cut chances until late, when the match was already gone. Beltrán just cleaned up what little got through.
The Miramón elbow—that felt like a turning point that could have gone either way.
It should have been a red. The VAR had a chance to call it and didn't. You could argue it changed the complexion of the match, but honestly, River was so dominant that it didn't matter. Gimnasia never found a way in, even with eleven men.
What does this mean for the semifinal against Rosario Central?
River has momentum now. They've shown they can win without playing their best football, which is often more valuable than a brilliant performance. Rosario Central will be a different challenge—they just beat Racing in extra time—but River has proven they belong in this conversation.