River thrash Atlético Escobar 6-0 across two closed-door friendlies in Ezeiza

With no Cup fixture and no official match date on the horizon, River found a way to keep its competitive edge. Against the backdrop of the FIFA date break, the squad traveled to Ezeiza to play two training matches against Atlético Escobar, a club that competes in the Federal A division. The idea was simple: make sure nobody goes without minutes while the official calendar is on pause.

Both friendlies were played in a two 45 minute halves format, with Leonardo Ponzio directing the team from the bench. According to ESPN reporter Javier Gil Navarro, the coaching staff's goal was clear: keep internal competition alive and get playing time into the legs of players who need matches during the break.

The first match featured the group that usually starts, and it was no walk in the park. Atlético Escobar held its ground and the match stayed even from start to finish, until a goal tipped the scales. River came away with a tight 1-0 win thanks to a finish from Pereyra, enough to close out the first part of the day with a victory.

The reserves left no doubt

Then it was the second unit's turn, the players looking to get minutes and fight for a spot. And there the match flipped completely: River was far more clinical and routed Atlético Escobar 5-0. With that result, the day's overall margin ended at a resounding 6-0 in favor of the team from Núñez.

The goals in that second match came from Borré, Beltrán, a brace from Esquivel and a closer from Rivero, spreading the scoring load among several players looking to make their case during this break.

Beyond the scoreline, what mattered most was something else: keeping the group's competitive sharpness during a week without tournament matches. Both friendlies served that purpose and left the entire squad with minutes in their legs ahead of the return to official action.

Because the comeback already has a date circled on the calendar. River won't play again until Saturday, October 10, when it hosts Estudiantes de Río Cuarto for matchday 12 of the 2026 Clausura Tournament. Until then, Ezeiza will remain the only stage where the Millonario can test itself against an opponent.