The stage is set. The battle lines are drawn. Come Saturday and, for a change, Latin America, not the star-studded, money-spinning and eyeball grabbing leagues in Europe, will be at the center stage in world football. The Superclasico is coming up.
History is being created at the Copa Libertadores as the Argentinian arch-rivals and the most popular clubs from the land of pampas, Boca Juniors and River Plate, are scheduled for a final showdown.
“There has never been a [Libertadores] final between Boca and River and it will be a historic opportunity. This match between the two great teams has attracted interest all over the world,” The South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) president Alejandro Dominguez summed up the growing hype and hoopla over the most-anticipated decider in the history of Latin American football.
The first match of the two-legged final will be played at Boca's iconic Bombonera Stadium in Buenos Aires. It's a contest that has promised to be a glimmer of hope for the football-crazy nation that hasn't won a single international title since winning the Copa America way back in 1993. It's a rejuvenating reprise battle between the two clubs followed by two third of the population of a developing economy that has been grappling with a falling peso and tackling a staggering debt crisis.
A man poses for a photo in front of Boca Juniors' La Bombonera stadium ahead of the Copa Libertadores final. /VCG Photo
From the Pampas to the Patagonia, almost all of Argentina has been eagerly awaiting the "super final," as it's been dubbed in the press.
The stakes are high as the organized groups like barra brava are desperate to fight for their loyalty and supremacy, posing a bigger challenge for security agencies. In a country with a dark history of ugly football fights and deaths over results, Boca president Daniel Angelici tried to pacify the rowdiest sections of both the fans and the barra brava by appealing, “Boca fans are proud to have reached this final, it must be enjoyed in peace.”
His River Plate counterpart Rodolfo D'Onofrio mentioned, “Football is a game that Argentina and several other countries in South America are very passionate about. We are seeing now the tremendous passion we feel for this game.”
It's interesting to see whether the incumbent Argentine President Mauricio Macri, who once ran Boca before using his success with the club as launch pad for running for the highest office, will cheer for his erstwhile club or watch the game as a fence-sitter in la grieta (the divide) that his country's football is facing.
Boca Juniors' president Daniel Angelici (L) and his counterpart of River Plate Rodolfo D'Onofrio pose during a news conference ahead of the first leg of the Copa Libertadores final match in Buenos Aires on November 9, 2018. /VCG Photo
Nonetheless, for a country, which lost one World Cup final and two back-to-back Copa America finals to continue with their 25-year long and agonizing trophy-less run in international football, two of its clubs vying for the title is surely a win-win situation.
If six-time former champions Boca will have the La Doce by their side in the first-leg of la gran final, River Plate, who are seeking their fourth title, will enjoy the home support when they return to their Estadio Monumental home ground on November 24.
(With input from agency)