River celebrates Gallardo’s return, but Huracán doesn’t let the party end

Marcelo Gallardo’s return to River Plate was – or is – so important that last night, when the 83,000 spectators in the Memorial Hall sang the typical song that welcomes the team (“River Plate, my good friend…”), they interrupted it in the same way. The moment they saw the coach go to the bench, he became the symbol of the happiest day. The first applause sounded, the dolls saluted, then more applause: almost throughout the game, for a short while, the track about Gallardo provided the background music for the game. It has been 21 months since the idol left the club and the millionaires have made him feel how much they miss him, not only through songs but also through the level of merchandise he has created: outside the stadium, his restored La Bruna ties were sold.

After a very successful first round, the opponent is the Huracán is not the best way to start the second round: 424 games played between 2014 and 2022, with 228 wins, 111 draws and 85 losses. 14 titles, 7 local and 7 international. In addition to the stability of Kudelka’s team, this Huracan team also has an excellent midfield, whose performances and scores damaged and violated River Plate almost all night.

Indeed, it was like a dream at the beginning, because in the 13th minute, after a pivot by Barreiro, Diablito Echeverri drew a beautiful half-turn and slid the ball past the left post of Galindes. The goal, the celebration of Gallardo and, of course, the songs in support of Muñeco and his return.

However, it was just a mirage. Something that was soon diluted. Because the Huracan immediately calmed down and stood up again until the 37th minute, when Echeverria arrived and headed in the goal after a rough mistake by Peña Biafra to equalize the score.

From that moment on, and especially in the second half, Huracan dominated River Plate. He dominated the game, the ball and the dangerous situations that each goal generated. Gallardo’s expressions and gestures were telling: the team did not respond. Some disturbing questions arise: is it an improvement compared to the last faded version when Demichelis sat on the bench? Or worse: has he improved on some of his lines? Apart from the initial enthusiasm and the excitement brought by Muneko’s return to the central command, the team remains as lackluster as before. There is a lot to correct. It has a point in its favor, something that was not there before: a sober and systematic defense against Pezzella in the background. The world champion center back showed his temperament and quality.

Finally, in the last minutes of an exciting match, the scene became more intense: the Huracan accelerated, advanced and reached the last meters of the river plate with the ball in hand, and the response was more motivated than the idea. It is true that Globo lacked the final touch. Or the penultimate one. Neither Fertoli nor Wanchope Abila – who entered in the second half and caused sickness in many who remembered Gallardo in the Madrid Libertadores final and sank the striker – could deliver the blow, and Kudelka’s team could not specify. It was an ambiguous point for both sides: it generated annoyance and at the same time resignation.

It could be a failure or a victory. After seeing the table, Huracan smiled: Although he could take all three points, he is still the leader of this shaky professional league.