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River Plate vs Boca Juniors: Carlos Tevez and Andres D’Alessandro to go toe-to-toe for final team in Superclasico

Fiercest rivalry in club football to be played in Buenos Aires — with fans of both clubs bidding farewell to two of their idols

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BOCA JUNIORS travel to River Plate on Sunday to contest what is generally considered the fiercest rivalry in football.

The Superclasico sees Buenos Aires’ two biggest teams go head-to-head.

BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA: Carlos Tevez (top) of Boca Juniors fights for the ball with Eduardo Tuzzio of River Plate during the 14th round match of the Argentinean Closing Tournament in La Bombonera stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina, 16 May 2004. River Plate won 1-0 and leads the champiomship. AFP PHOTO/Daniel GARCIA (Photo credit should read DANIEL GARCIA/AFP/Getty Images)
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Carlos Tevez will bid a final farewell to Boca Juniors-River Plate rivalryCredit: Getty Images

It is a rivalry steeped in history — which may well be the last for two of pair’s biggest stars.

Boca’s Carlos Tevez and River’s Andres D’Alessandro were on opposite sides of the city from 2001 to 2003.

Before the former Premier League duo's rivalry was renewed last season.

BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA - APRIL 24: Andres D'Alessandro of River Plate fights for the ball with Nicolas Lodeiro of Boca Juniors during a match between Boca Juniors and River Plate as part of Torneo Transicion 2016 at Alberto J. Armando Stadium on April 24, 2016 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. (Photo by Gabriel Rossi/LatinContent/Getty Images)
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River Plate idol Andres D'Alessandro will likely play his final SuperclasicoCredit: Getty Images

Two supremely talented footballers whose stints in Europe could have much lasted longer.

But this could be the final meeting of the two clubs’ flagbearers.

Tevez, who has been the subject of £635,000-a-week offer from Chinese Super League side, Shanghai Shenhua, could use the twilight of his career to set him up financially for life.

While, at 35, D’Alessandro does not have much time left.

Andres d'Alessandro, right, of River Plate battles for the ball with Maximiliano Estevez, left, of Racing Club, Sunday, Dec. 2, 2001, during their Argentine first division soccer game in Buenos Aires. The match ended in a 1-1 tie. (AP Photo / Daniel Luna)
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Andres d'Alessandro first played in a Superclasico as a youngster back in 2001Credit: AP:Associated Press
BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA - SEPTEMBER 13: Carlos Tevez of Boca Juniors fights for the ball with Emanuel Mammana of River Plate during a match between River Plate and Boca Juniors as part of 24th round of Torneo Primera Division 2015 at Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti Stadium on September 13, 2015 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. (Photo by Gabriel Rossi/LatinContent/Getty Images)
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Carlos Tevez is a hero among Boca Juniors fans and won titles in both spellsCredit: Getty Images
Argentina's striker Andres D'alessandro (L) embraces team mate Carlos Tevez after soring his team's first goal during the first half of their Group C soccer match against Australia at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games, August 17, 2004. Argentina defeated Australia 1-0. REUTERS/Marcos Brindicci MBR/DL - RTRVGK1
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Andres D'Alessandro and Carlos Tevez were former team-mates for ArgentinaCredit: Reuters

Tevez won one Argentinian title, a Copa Libertadores, a Copa Sudamericana, an Intercontinental Cup and a Copa Argentina in his first spell with Boca, before moving to West Ham via Brazilian side, Corinthians.

He left the Hammers to win trophies with Manchester United, Man City and Juventus before returning to his hometown club in 2015 and adding another league medal to his collection.

River Plate's midfielder Andres D'Alessandro (#22-C) argues with Boca Juniors's midfielder Fernando Gago (C-L) during the Argentina First Divison football match at La Bombonera stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on April 24, 2016. / AFP / ALEJANDRO PAGNI (Photo credit should read ALEJANDRO PAGNI/AFP/Getty Images)
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Andres D'Alessandro involved in a scrap against Boca in first spell with clubCredit: Getty Images
PORTSMOUTH, UNITED KINGDOM - MAY 07: Andres D'Alessandro of Portsmouth is challenged by Xabi Alonso of Liverpool during the Barclays Premiership match between Portsmouth and Liverpool at Fratton Park on May 7, 2006 in Portsmouth, England. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
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Andres D'Alessandro enjoyed a brief spell in Premier League with PortsmouthCredit: Getty Images
STOKE, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 26: Carlos Tevez of Manchester United celebrates scoring their first goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Stoke City and Manchester United at the Britannia Stadium on December 26 2008 in Stoke, England. (Photo by John Peters/Manchester United via Getty Images)
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Carlos Tevez played for Manchester United from 2007 to 2009Credit: Getty Images

D’Alessadro’s journey, meanwhile, has been less of a success story — despite possessing arguably more natural talent.

He left River after three league successes to join German side, Wolfsburg, in 2003.

After failing to shine, he enjoyed loan spells at Portsmouth and Zaragoza, before signing for the Spanish side permanently.

BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA: Carlos Tevez of Boca Juniors displays the trophy to the fans after his team defeated Bolivar de La Paz, of Bolivia, 2-0 and won the final of Copa Sudamericana at La Bombonera stadium in Buenos Aires, 17 December 2004. AFP PHOTO/Ali BURAFI (Photo credit should read ALI BURAFI/AFP/Getty Images)
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Carlos Tevez celebrates winning Copa Sudamericana with Boca in 2004Credit: Getty Images
Argentina's River Plate midfielder Andres D'Alessandro (2-R ) raises the trophy of the Recopa Sudamericana 2016 next to teammates forward Sebastian Driussi (R), midfielder Camilo Mayada (2-L) and forward Rodrigo Mora after wining by 2-1 its final football match against Colombia's Independiente Santa Fe at the Monumental stadium on August 25, 2016. / AFP / JUAN MABROMATA (Photo credit should read JUAN MABROMATA/AFP/Getty Images)
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Andres D'Alessandro lifts aloft Recopa Sudamericana he won in second spellCredit: Getty Images

However, an underwhelming spell ended after just six months and he returned to San Lorenzo in his homeland for the rest of the season.

In 2008, he moved to Brazilian side, Internacional, and remained for eight years where he became an icon among the fans.



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Andres D'Alessandro in action during first River Plate spell back in 2003
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Andres D'Alessandro in action during first River Plate spell back in 2003Credit: Getty Images
MIAMI, : River Plate's Matias LeQui (L) tries to muscle the ball away from Boca Juniors Carlo Tevez during first half action of their friendly match, 15 June 2002, at the Orange Bowl In Miami, Florida. AFP PHOTO/RHONA WISE (Photo credit should read RHONA WISE/AFP/Getty Images)
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Carlos Tevez has been involved in plenty fiesty Superclasico clashesCredit: Getty Images

But in the summer of 2016, he returned to his boyhood club on loan and immediately won the Recopa Sudamericana — which is the South American equivalent to the Uefa Super Cup.

As Argentinian football falls into the doldrums, with their top stars leave for top clubs in Europe at a young age, Buenos Aires can at least two of its finest sons going toe-to-toe one final time.

It might be a while before they see this again.

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