River Uses Open Date for Mini Preseason Under Ponzio

With no Clausura match this weekend, River decided not to sit idle. The club asked to move its game against Estudiantes de Rio Cuarto, originally part of matchday 12, to Saturday, October 10, and that gave Leonardo Ponzio something he rarely gets: 21 days to work without the pressure of an upcoming opponent. According to journalist Gustavo Yarroch on ESPN F12, the coach plans to use that stretch to run what amounts to a real "mini preseason."

So what does that mean in practical terms? It's not about inventing a new system or overhauling the team. The coaching staff wants to fine tune collective play, improve the transitions between attack and defense, and polish set pieces, the kind of details that often decide tight matches. There's little room for error: only six matchdays remain before the playoffs, and River has its sights set on a clear goal, fighting for the Clausura 2026 title, which also carries a spot in the 2027 Copa Libertadores.

Amid that schedule, one date stands out above the rest: November 1, when River travels to face Boca in the Superclasico. Before that clash arrives, Ponzio wants his team running as smoothly as possible.

Back to work, with reinforcements on the way

The squad returned to training on the morning of Tuesday, September 29, after Ponzio gave the players two days off (Sunday and Monday) as a reward for the win over Velez. Since then, the week has brought encouraging news on the recovery front: Tobias Andrada has already rejoined group training and is expected to be available for the October 10 match against Estudiantes de Rio Cuarto, while Anibal Moreno and Thiago Almada have also returned to full training with the squad. If they're not ready in time for that game, the plan is to have them available by the 14th, when River visits Sarmiento de Junin.

The string of friendlies has become Ponzio's road map during this stretch without official competition. River had already faced All Boys and Estudiantes de Buenos Aires, and last Saturday played a third test against Velez Sarsfield, which ended 3 to 2 in favor of the team from Nunez with goals from Sebastian Driussi, Angel Correa and Lucas Beltran.

That series of friendlies has let the coach take a close look at several players and, above all, keep the squad's competitive rhythm sharp at a point in the calendar when teams often lose their edge. In fact, the coaching staff is considering adding another match with nothing on the line this coming Saturday, though no opponent has been confirmed yet. The idea is simple: keep the team active until official competition resumes and arrive in the best possible shape for a year end stretch where River has everything at stake.