River Plate and Rosario Central will face off this Friday to decide Argentine football’s ultimate champion in the Trofeo de Campeones (Trophy of Champions). The trophy pits the winners of this year’s Liga Profesional and Copa de la Liga against each other. The curtain closer to the Argentine football season can be followed live from 9 p.m. via TNT Sports and ESPN Premium for those with a “football pack” paid subscription.
Played at the Madre de Ciudades Stadium in Santiago del Estero, if the initial 90 minutes end in a tie, there will be two 15-minute periods of extra time and a penalty shoot-out if required. Facundo Tello will referee the encounter.
Liga Profesional winners River Plate will be out for revenge after their Copa de la Liga elimination in the semifinals against Rosario Central. The game will also be a big occasion for Martin Demichelis’s side, with as many as 10 players in for what could be their last outing with the Millonarios, including important figures like Salomón Rondón, Enzo Pérez, Nicolás de la Cruz and Jonatan Maidana.
Rosario Central will want to keep its winning streak by adding another title to the cabinet. The side led by Miguel Ángel Russo was one of the best teams of the second half of the season and has yet to lose against River this season. After beating Platense 1-0 last Saturday in the very same stadium to lift the Copa de la Liga, the Canalla will look to wrap it up in style.The head-to-head tally favors River. The Millonario crossed paths with the Rosario team a total of 153 times, having won 78 times, while Rosario Central could only muster 31 wins. They finished tied 44 times.