River arrives in Bogota with both starting fullbacks in doubt, preps Plan B with Martinez Quarta at right back

River arrives in Bogota with a concern that isn't new, but this time it's biting a little harder: both starting fullbacks are in doubt for the first leg of the Copa Sudamericana round of 16 against Independiente Santa Fe. Marcos Acuna is still working his way back from injury and Gonzalo Montiel came out banged up after the match against Argentinos Juniors, so Marcelo Gallardo, sorry, Gustavo Coudet, has to piece together a puzzle that seemed solved just a few days ago.

Gustavo Yarroch himself explained it on ESPN F90: if neither fullback is fit to play, the coach has a move in mind that would significantly alter the team's usual look. The idea is to shift Lucas Martinez Quarta out to right back, a position he's played before, and bring in Facundo Gonzalez on the left. That would leave the center of defense in the hands of the more experienced pairing: Nicolas Otamendi and Lautaro Rivero.

It's an emergency solution, sure, but it also speaks to the variations Coudet has been trying out in recent weeks so as not to be locked into a single scheme when injuries hit. River just snapped a losing streak that had set off some alarm bells, and that result offers a bit of breathing room right before a matchup that leaves no room to relax: Independiente Santa Fe hosts the first leg on its own field, and for River, advancing to the next round remains a central goal for the rest of the season.

No doubts in midfield, forced change up top

Unlike the defense, the midfield isn't up for debate at all. Anibal Moreno, Tobias Andrada, Angel Correa and Thiago Almada all look like locks, a quartet that blends ball recovery, possession and width, and has been the footballing backbone of the team.

Up front there is a forced change: Rafael Santos Borre comes in as a starter in place of Lucas Beltran, who wasn't even included on the squad list for this Cup. Borre would pair with Joaquin Freitas up top, providing the kind of depth Coudet needs against an opponent that will sit deep and look to hit on the counter.

With all this in mind, River's likely lineup to visit Independiente Santa Fe would be Santiago Beltran in goal; Martinez Quarta, Otamendi, Rivero and Gonzalez across the back four; Moreno, Andrada, Almada and Correa in midfield; and Freitas alongside Borre up top. There's still time for Acuna or Montiel to recover in time, but the coaching staff already has Plan B ready in case the first leg in Bogota forces them to play without their usual fullbacks.