Their meeting three years ago was abandoned after the River Plate players were attacked by pepper gas, and away fans haven't been welcome since.
THE last time that Boca Juniors and River Plate met in the Copa Libertadores, South America’s Champions League, was three years ago.
The game did not get as far as the final whistle.
A Boca fan managed to slice his way through the inflatable tunnel that is supposed to protect the players and threw pepper gas at the River team as they came out for the second half.
The match was abandoned and Boca were kicked out of the competition. And that was a mere second round clash.
Now they meet in the two legged final – tomorrow at Boca’s ground after Saturday's original showdown was postponed 24 hours, and two weeks later at River’s. These will be the biggest ever clash in one of world football’s major rivalries.
South America’s most important club trophy, a place in the Club World Cup and at least half a century of bragging rights are at stake over the course of two matches in which the players are going to be under insane pressure.
There are two reasons for the importance of Boca v River.
One is the magnificence of Argentine football culture. The country can sometimes appear as a football republic. It is a nation of coaches angrily debating tactical details – and of lunatic fans, howling out some of the best songs in the game to a pounding beat of drums.
Argentine fan culture has set the tone for much of what happens elsewhere in South America.
And then there is the fault line between the two clubs. They grew up as neighbours in the docklands area of Buenos Aires. Boca have stayed defiantly put, in the cramped and claustrophobic streets of la Boca.
Their stadium reflects the lack of space. It is called La Bonbonera – the chocolate box – because it goes straight up. The fans are close to the pitch and the atmosphere is unreal.
River have long since moved out to the snooty suburbs, all wide and wooded avenues. Their stadium is a giant bowl, with ample corridors.
Surveys show there is no great difference between the social bases of the two clubs fans. But on the level of symbols, River represent the haves and Boca stand for the have nots.
Diego Maradona likes little better than to visit his old stomping ground at Boca, take his shirt off and lead the chanting.
There will be no visiting fans in either game. This has become standard practice in recent years in Argentine football, an attempt to get a grip on a serious problem of fan violence. And the times have been changed. Normally these matches take place late on Wednesday night.
Security considerations – especially for the second leg, when the G20, Donald Trump and all are due in town a few days after – have forced a change to Saturday evening, much more convenient for a European audience.
Those tuning in will have atmosphere guaranteed, even with home fans only. There is the certainty of drama. Genuine quality, though, might be in shorter supply.
Most are expecting the matches – and especially the first leg – to be tight. In an environment when no one is allowed to lose, the priority will surely be on the avoidance of mistakes.
But there is always the chance of the game catching fire – for the right reasons. Both sides have assembled deep squads with plenty of attacking options. Boca’s wingers, Villa and Pavon, are interesting.
Centre forward Benedetto has rediscovered his touch after a long injury lay off, though he may start on the bench. Mauro Zarate will come into contention, while Carlos Tevez will almost certainly be a substitute. And Colombian defensive midfielder Wilmar Barrios will surely soon be in Europe.
River have some Colombian talent of their own – especially World Cup playmaker Quintero, though he will probably be saved for the bench – and Rafael Santos Borre, a striker full of interesting movement. Left winger Gonzalo Martinez is also one to watch.
But how will they all react to the pressure? Who will hide from the occasion? Who will come up big and write his name in the history books? Before the event, there is no way of knowing. For all of their experience, none of the players will ever have faced pressure on the scale of Boca v River in the final of the Libertadores.
