BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA — With River Plate firmly entrenched in second place and hungry to close the gap at the top of the Liga Profesional, and Belgrano arriving from Córdoba desperate to protect their own top-five standing, the Estadio Más Monumental crackled with expectation. What unfolded was a masterclass in clinical finishing from the hosts, as Tomás Galván's brace and a Facundo Colidio header delivered a commanding 3-0 victory that underlined River's title credentials.
The opening exchanges were tightly contested, with possession split almost exactly 50-50 as both sides probed for openings without committing recklessly. Belgrano looked organized and dangerous on the counter, and Santiago Beltrán was called into action to deny Alexis Maldonado's header from the centre of the box, palming the effort away with composure. But it was River who drew first blood, and when the breakthrough came, it carried the hallmark of a side brimming with confidence.
Galván broke the deadlock in the 36th minute, drilling a right-footed effort from the centre of the box into the bottom right corner to send the Monumental faithful into raptures. It was a finish of real quality — composed, precise, and utterly decisive. Belgrano goalkeeper Thiago Cardozo had no answer. The goal capped a period of sustained River pressure, during which Sebastián Driussi had already tested Cardozo twice and rattled the left post with a stinging effort from the right side of the box, assisted by Fausto Vera. River went into the interval a goal to the good, though Belgrano could take some encouragement from their ability to match the hosts in midfield.
The second half began with River's coaching staff making a decisive call. Ian Subiabre made way for Juan Meza in the 52nd minute, and the substitute needed just six minutes to justify his introduction. Meza picked out Facundo Colidio with a perfectly weighted delivery, and the striker met it emphatically, nodding home from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. River Plate 2, Belgrano 0 — and the contest, for all practical purposes, was over.
Belgrano refused to capitulate without a fight. Lucas Passerini tested Beltrán with a right-footed effort from the centre of the box, only to be denied by the River goalkeeper. Then, after Lautaro Gutierrez replaced Passerini in the 67th minute, the substitute immediately made his presence felt, rising to meet Juan Velázquez's cross and forcing Beltrán into a fine stop at the top centre of the goal. The visitors' frustration boiled over at times — Alcides Benítez was cautioned in the 61st minute, and Alexis Maldonado followed him into the book in the 74th minute — but they simply could not find a way through a resolute River backline.
Any lingering doubt about the outcome was extinguished in the 83rd minute. Aníbal Moreno threaded a perfectly weighted through ball in behind the Belgrano defence, and Galván latched onto it with predatory instinct, steering a right-footed shot from the right side of the box into the bottom left corner. His second goal of the evening completed the rout and capped a performance of real authority from the Argentine forward. Galván was withdrawn a minute later to a standing ovation, replaced by Lautaro Pereyra, with Joaquin Freitas also entering for Driussi as River managed the closing stages with ease.
By the numbers, the match was closer than the scoreline suggested in terms of territorial control — possession was shared evenly at 50%-50% — but River's clinical edge in front of goal told the real story. Beltrán made three saves to preserve the clean sheet, while Cardozo was beaten three times despite keeping out Driussi on two separate occasions. Four yellow cards across the ninety minutes — Matías Viña and Lautaro Rivero for River, Benítez and Maldonado for Belgrano — reflected the competitive edge that never fully dissipated, even as the scoreline grew.
The scoreboard resets; the table does not. River Plate carry 23 points and a three-goal swing in goal difference into their trip to face Racing Club on April 12, a fixture that could define the shape of the title race. Belgrano, still on 19 points and now with a goal difference back to zero, must regroup swiftly before hosting Aldosivi on the same date.
