Extreme weather, accusations of deliberate red cards and supporter violence – Goal looks at the 2018 two-legged continental finals clash
The historic Copa Libertadores Superclasico final between Boca Juniors and River Plate has predictably not been short of drama.
A game which most fans and officials would have wanted to be remembered as a spectacle of football has descended into a desperate farce after River fans blitzed the Boca bus ahead of the second leg.
Now the deciding tie has been postponed – twice – and a new date has yet to be finalised.
So how did it get like this? Goal takes a look back at the unfortunate timeline of the 2018 Copa Libertadores finals.
Oct 31 | Boca beat Palmeiras to set up historic Copa final
A 4-2 aggregate semi-final victory over Brazilian side Palmeiras makes history, ensuring that Boca will face off against their eternal rivals in the finals.
Read the report here.
AdvertisementNov 4 | CONMEBOL reject Gremio final appeal
Defending champions Gremio were left feeling aggrieved following their semi-final loss to River and they sought to find a way to the final by making an appeal to CONMEBOL.
The basis of their appeal was that the result should not stand because River boss Marcelo Gallardo broke suspension rules.
CONMEBOL rejected the appeal, but Gallardo was hit with a further three-match suspension and fined $50,000 (£40,000).
Read the full story.
Getty ImagesNov 5 | Away fans banned from attending finals
With such a long-standing and bitter rivalry already established both clubs agreed that it would be best if away fans were prohibited from attending either finals game.
The idea, of course, was to minimise the risk of violence.
Argentina president Mauricio Macri was of the opposite view and wanted away fans to be allowed to attend.
Read the full story here.
GettyNov 6 | Zenit star denies deliberately getting red card to attend
One of the more bizarre stories to surface after the news of a historic Superclasico Copa Libertadores final was confirmed revolved around a Zenit player.
Leandro Paredes, who began his career at Boca, was accused of deliberately getting himself sent off in order to allow him the freedom to attend the Copa final as a fan.
"It's all a lie," Paredes said. "Nothing happened here. It's something that was invented in Argentina."
Read the full story.