Thiago Almada set to start for River against Argentinos in Clausura matchday 5

A full week of training was enough to convince Eduardo Coudet. Thiago Almada, the new face of the 2026 Clausura Tournament, looked set to start for River's match against Argentinos Juniors in matchday 5 of Zone B, and everything suggests Chacho won't resist the temptation to hand him a spot from the opening whistle at the Monumental.

The former Atlanta United player arrived as one of the highest profile signings for Millonario and has already had time to train alongside the group. According to information gathered on Buen Dia ESPN, Coudet's plan is to repeat much of the team that got the job done against Tigre, with one significant change: Tomas Galvan making way for Almada in the attacking midfield role.

Argentinos isn't just any visiting side. El Bicho is one of the teams that started the championship with a perfect record, so River knows it can't afford to relax even playing at home and with fans eager to see their new playmaker make his debut.

The confirmed absences

Juan Patricio Balbi, a reporter who closely follows Millonario, went over the injury situation on the ESPN program and was blunt about it: Marcos Acuna, Mauro Arambarri and Sebastian Driussi won't even be on the bench against Argentinos. All three are in the final stage of their recovery, and the medical staff's plan is not to expose them to unnecessary strain.

The target for all three is the CONMEBOL Sudamericana, where River will have to face Independiente Santa Fe. That match has been marked as the deadline for Acuna, Arambarri and Driussi to be available again for Coudet.

Alongside Balbi, journalist Gustavo Yarroch agreed that the starting eleven to host Argentinos would be nearly identical to the one that faced Tigre, aside from Almada's inclusion. The other question mark, as always with this River side, is up front: Rafael Santos Borre or Lucas Beltran are competing for the center forward spot, a decision Coudet tends to keep close to the vest until the last moment.

With those factors in play, River's likely lineup would have Santiago Beltran in goal; Gonzalo Montiel, Lucas Martinez Quarta, Nicolas Otamendi and Francisco Ortega across the back line; Anibal Moreno and Tobias Andrada in midfield; Joaquin Freitas, Thiago Almada and Angel Correa creating chances; and up top, either Borre or Beltran as the focal point in the box.

The Monumental awaits a match with two parallel storylines: that of a team that needs a win to keep pace with Argentinos in the standings, and that of fans who will be watching every touch from Almada as he makes his first start wearing the red band.