Highlights and goals: Barcelona 2-3 River in Copa Libertadores

Off we go! This was the coverage of the match between Barcelona and River Plate in the match corresponding to Matchday 4 of Group B of the Copa Libertadores.

 

¡DRIUSSI Y GOL DE RIVER! Pega primero el equipo de Gallardo para el 1-0 ante Barcelona en Ecuador.

📺 Mirá TODA la CONMEBOL #Libertadores por #DisneyPlus Premium pic.twitter.com/TenANE5Gi7

— SportsCenter (@SC_ESPN) May 9, 2025

¡EMPATA BARCELONA EN EL PRIMER TIEMPO! Buen cabezazo de Octavio Rivero para el 1-1 ante River en Ecuador.

📺 Mirá TODA la CONMEBOL #Libertadores por #DisneyPlus Premium pic.twitter.com/pgJsQu3kZi

— SportsCenter (@SC_ESPN) May 9, 2025

¡COLIDIO APARECE EN ECUADOR PARA EL 2-1 DE RIVER ANTE BARCELONA!

📺 Mirá TODA la CONMEBOL #Libertadores por #DisneyPlus Premium pic.twitter.com/rj9QqHuLX2

— SportsCenter (@SC_ESPN) May 9, 2025

ASISTENCIA DE BORJA, GOL DE MASTANTUONO Y RIVER 3-1 BARCELONA EN ECUADOR.

📺 Mirá TODA la CONMEBOL #Libertadores por #DisneyPlus Premium pic.twitter.com/gRdrrqc7bI

— SportsCenter (@SC_ESPN) May 9, 2025

INSÓLITO: COROZO LA SACÓ Y MARTÍNEZ QUARTA EN CONTRA DESCONTÓ PARA BARCELONA...

📺 Mirá TODA la CONMEBOL #Libertadores por #DisneyPlus Premium pic.twitter.com/UeZRErsPOh

— SportsCenter (@SC_ESPN) May 9, 2025

River Plate defeated Barcelona 3-2 in the match corresponding to Matchday 4 of the Copa Libertadores. The home team lost at home again, and the visitors consolidated their lead in Group B.

The referee added 5 more minutes from now on.

The match was stopped due to both goals and the substitutions made by both teams, which delayed the restart.

Midfielder Matías Rojas came on for midfielder Franco Mastantuono. This was the fifth and final substitution for River Plate, which saw five substitutions in three windows and halftime.

Gonzalo Montiel was also booked after the break for a foul.

Midfielder Giuliano Galoppo was booked for a foul in the opponent's half. This is River Plate's first yellow card and his third of the match.

Dixon Arroyo, Brian Oyola, and Jandry Gómez came on for Byron Castillo, Janner Corozo, and Jesús Trindade. These were the last three substitutions for Barcelona, ​​who used up all five changes in their three available leads.

Midfielder Jesús Trindade was booked for a midfield foul. This is the player's second yellow card for Barcelona and this match overall.   

Center back Germán Pezzella came on for midfielder Enzo Pérez. This is the fourth substitution River Plate has, and they still have a substitution available, and they have the advantage of making it.

Maximiliano Meza and Giuliano Galoppo came on for Facundo Colidio and Ignacio Fernández. These are the second and third changes for River Plate, who still have two possible substitutions and two windows.

Midfielder Gabriel Cortez came on for forward Joaquín Valiente. This is the second substitution for Barcelona, ​​with three possible changes remaining and only one window in which to make them.

After scoring the second goal, Barcelona improved considerably and took control of the game. They are positioned in the opponent's half and are looking for an equalizer against a River Plate team that is looking to counterattack and finish them off.

Just like the first half, the second half shows a lot of energy from both teams, who have already scored a goal each, to keep the frenzy going.          

In response to River's third, he went in search of a discount and he achieved it. Barcelona attacked down the right with Byron Castillo, who was faster, outpaced the goalkeeper, and delivered a cross. Janner Corozo couldn't get his shot off, but Lucas Martínez Quarta swatted it away to make it 2-3

Miguel Borja controlled the ball outside the box, tried to turn with the marker on him, forced his way into position, and, with the goalkeeper coming out, shot from the left side of the box, but Facundo Mastantuono tapped it in to make it 3-1.

The referee gave the signal, the second 45 minutes are now underway.

Miguel Borja replaces Sebastián Driussi for River Plate. There are no substitutions for Barcelona.

With River Plate partially ahead 2-1, the referee signaled the end of the first half.

The start showed great intensity and a better visiting team that managed to take the lead on two occasions.

The referee added three more minutes from now on.

The match was stopped when the Barcelona goalkeeper asked for treatment and was then substituted.

After a clearance from Martínez Quarta, a home player made a long pass for Corozo, who shot inside the box, but Armani saved it. The winger was also offside.

Goalkeeper Ignacio de Arruabarrena came on for injured goalkeeper José Contreras. This is the first change for Barcelona, ​​who still have four changes to make in two windows and halftime.

Barcelona's Contreras fell to the ground and asked to be treated by the medical team. After a few minutes and the substitute being sent to warm up, the goalkeeper got back to his feet and appears to be staying on.

Defender Aníbal Chala was booked for a harsh foul on the left side of his own penalty area. This is the player's first yellow card for Barcelona and in the match overall.

Ignacio Fernández played a long ball to Sebastián Driussi, who couldn't control it, and the ball went wide. Facundo Colidio received the ball at the edge of the box, controlled it wide, and crossed it with his right foot to make it 2-1.

Barcelona threatened again with a corner from the right. Acuña crossed to the near post and Colidio's header hit the crossbar and went out to the other side of the box.

In a great moment for the home side, who accelerated in search of an equalizer, Leonai Soiza de Almeida crossed from the right and Octavio Rivero, who anticipated his marker, headed in past Franco Armani's left post to make it 1-1.

A corner kick from the right, the River player couldn't get a shot off and the Barcelona goalkeeper couldn't catch it. The ball continued and hit Paulo Díaz, who couldn't get a shot off. Contreras recovered and grabbed the ball.

The visitors played a long ball to the forwards, who were one-on-one with the defenders. Sebastián Driussi positioned himself at the edge of the box, controlled it out wide, and crossed with his right foot for the 1-0 lead.

The match started with plenty of energy. There's still no clear dominance, but River seems to be better positioned. Both teams had a shot with a cross that went straight into the goalkeepers' hands.

The players are already in their places, the referee gave the order, and we are already watching the match between Barcelona and River Plate for Matchday 4 of the Copa Libertadores

The players are already taking the field to kick off the match on Matchday 4 of the Copa Libertadores. The home team is coming off a home loss to Universitario, while the visitors drew 2-2 with Independiente del Valle.

Referee: Wilmar Roldán
Assistant 1: Jhon Leon
Assistant 2: David Fuentes
Fourth official: Diego Ulloa
VAR: Leonard Mosquera

With the return of several starters who were rested over the weekend, Gallardo chose these 11 to go in search of another Copa Libertadores victory.

✔️ ¡Los 11 del Millonario para una nueva noche de #Libertadores! 👊⚽#VamosRiver ⚪🔴⚪ pic.twitter.com/YkPw36E9eN

— River Plate (@RiverPlate) May 8, 2025

This is how the "Ídolo del Astillero" (Idol of the Shipyard) will take the field in search of another victory that will secure them a place in the standings and prevent the visitors from slipping away.

¡Alineación para esta noche! #BSCvsRiver #ConmebolLibertadores pic.twitter.com/Ry3nDonipX

— BARCELONA S.C. (@BarcelonaSC) May 8, 2025

Before changing in the locker room, the squads are already on the field to go through their pre-match movements before the match.

The starters are warming up the benches for this match.

The last match was in the second round of this Copa Libertadores, and at the Más Monumental stadium, the result was a 0-0 draw.

River Plate will face Barracas Central in the Round of 16 of the Argentine League and then face Racing and Platense. In the Copa Libertadores, they will host Independiente del Valle and Universitario.

Universidad Católica - Barcelona
Universitario - Barcelona
Barcelona - Emelec
Barcelona - Cuenca
Independiente del Valle - Barcelona

1) River Plate: 5 points
2) Independiente del Valle: 4 points
3) Barcelona CS: 4 points
4) Universitario: 3 points

Barcelona: Contreras; Carabalí, Arreaga, Vallecilla, Pineida; Trindade; Castillo, de Almeida, Corozo; Cortez; and River Plate.

River Plate: Armani; Bustos, Pezzella, González Pirez, Casco; Fernández, Pérez, Galoppo; Mastantuono, Driussi, and Colidio.

These are the players chosen by Marcelo Gallardo to travel to Ecuador in search of another victory.

📝 Los convocados por Marcelo Gallardo para viajar a Ecuador por la fecha 4 de la #Libertadores 🆚 Barcelona SC. #VamosRiver 🤍❤️🤍 pic.twitter.com/Icwu7roRDL

— River Plate (@RiverPlate) May 7, 2025

Don't miss the match between Barcelona and River Plate on Matchday 4 of the Copa Libertadores. The home team is coming off a home defeat to Universitario, while the visitors drew 2-2 with Independiente del Valle.

Soon we will share with you the starting lineups for the Barcelona vs River Plate live match, as well as the latest information from the Estadio Monumental Banco Pichincha. Don't miss a single detail of the live match updates and commentary from VAVEL's coverage.

The Barcelona vs River Plate match will not be broadcast on TV, so if you want to follow the match you can do it online on VAVEL.

Here are the schedules of the different countries where you can watch the match
Argentina: 9:30 p.m.
Bolivia: 8:30 p.m.
Brazil: 9:30 p.m.
Chile: 8:30 p.m.
Colombia: 7:30 p.m.
Ecuador: 7:30 p.m.
USA (ET): 8:30 p.m.
Spain: 2:30 a.m.
Mexico: 7:30 p.m.
Paraguay: 8:30 p.m.
Peru: 7:30 p.m.
Uruguay: 9:30 p.m.
Venezuela: 8:30 p.m.

Sebastián Driussi, the most decisive player that the team had in the last matches, will try to be important again to get a victory that will leave them well positioned for the qualification. The striker arrived with very high expectations, but his performance was not good at all. However, in the last four games he scored four goals and provided one assist. His victims were Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata, Boca Juniors, Independiente del Valle and Velez Sarsfield.

Gabriel Cortez, the team's top scorer in Ecuador's LigaPro Serie A, will be looking for his first goal at the international level to give the team some joy with halfway through the group stage. The midfielder has just scored a brace in the 2-1 win over Vinotinto Fútbol Club and has now scored four goals in the tournament. However, in the Copa Libertadores there is only one goal among the whole team and that was scored by Bryan Carabali, so he will be looking for his debut in the net.

These two teams have met only five times over the years in international matches. Of the total, River Plate won three, Barcelona won only once and they drew the remaining one, leaving a difference of two encounters. The last meeting was on the second date of this Copa Libertadores and, at the “Más” Monumental, the result was a 0-0 draw.

For their part, “El Millonario” come into this match with an important positive streak of 13 matches unbeaten in all competitions and undefeated at the start of the Copa Libertadores. In addition, they have just won the Superclásico against Boca Juniors and finished second in the Argentine league. In its last appearance in the Libertadores, it drew 2-2 away to Independiente del Valle. At the start of the fourth round, they are the sole leaders of Group B with five points from one win and two draws.
5)

The “Ídolo del Astillero” comes to this match with a positive local streak of three consecutive victories, but its last presentation in the Copa Libertadores was not good at all. They have just come up empty-handed against Universitario of Peru, who won 1-0 in a key duel for the Group B leadership. At the beginning of this fourth date, they are in third place with four points, the same as Independiente del Valle, which has a better goal difference and one behind River, which is in the lead.

The Copa Libertadores Group Stage Matchday 4 match between Barcelona vs River Plate will take place at the Estadio Monumental Banco Pichincha, officially called Estadio Isidro Romero Carbo, is a soccer stadium located on Barcelona Avenue in the city of Guayaquil. It has a maximum capacity of 59,283 spectators and was inaugurated on December 27, 1987.

Hello everyone! Welcome to the live broadcast of Barcelona vs River Plate, matchday 4 of the Copa Libertadores group stage.

My name is Gianluca Pantano and I will be hosting the match. We will provide you with pre-match analysis, score updates and live news here on VAVEL.