Leonardo Ponzio was preparing to make his debut as River's coach on Sunday, August 30, when the team was scheduled to visit Banfield at the Estadio Florencio Sola at 15.00 hours. It is the start of a new cycle for River after Eduardo Coudet's departure, and the matchup arrives with the club still focused on Libertadores qualification.
River reached this point after a difficult week. On Wednesday, the team was eliminated against Independiente Santa Fe, and by Saturday it had already moved on to its next step. The squad trained for the third time since that setback, with the last practice taking place at Cantilo, where Ponzio defined the group for the trip to Banfield.
Ponzio's first River lineup
The source defined the squad, but it did not provide a full confirmed starting XI. What is clear is that Ponzio was already making the key decisions for his first official match in charge, with the goal of setting River on a steadier path after the coaching change.
That makes the visit to Banfield more than a routine Clausura fixture. It is River's first chance to show what the new cycle looks like on the field, with Ponzio stepping into a demanding role and the team looking to respond quickly after the midweek elimination.
What comes next
Sunday's game at Florencio Sola will offer the first real answer about River under Ponzio. With Libertadores qualification still part of the picture, the debut carries immediate importance for both the short term and the bigger season goals ahead.
