“Genoa would be proud to welcome you to what, in a way, is your first home“
After all the hype, the eagerly anticipated Copa Libertadores second leg between River Plate and Boca Juniors didn’t go ahead at the weekend.
With the first leg finishing 2-2 at La Bombonera, the return was postponed after Boca’s bus was attacked by River Plate fans while on its way to El Monumental on Saturday afternoon. Although the kick-off was initially delayed by a couple of hours, it was later put back to Sunday when it emerged some of Boca’s players had been injured in the incident. Following a further request from Boca to suspend the game, CONMEBOL confirmed the final would not be concluded on Sunday, either.
Some reports have since claimed it is yet to be decided whether the second leg will be played at all; others suggesting it will, but perhaps not in Buenos Aires.
In response to this, it’s emerged that the Italian city of Genoa has offered to stage the game at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris, home to its two Serie A clubs, Sampdoria and Genoa.
In attesa che il 4 dicembre si decida la sede ufficiale, una lettera è stata inviata ai presidenti di @BocaJrsOficial Angelici e @CARPoficial D’Onofrio per invitare i due club, fondati da emigranti genovesi a inizio 900 nel quartiere della Boca, a giocare al Ferraris ⚽ pic.twitter.com/cbt5YshcAK
— COMUNE DI GENOVA (@ComunediGenova) November 26, 2018
“We would be proud to welcome you to what, in a way, is your first home,” Stefano Anzalone, Genoa’s councillor for sport, said in a statement – a reference to the the fact that some of the founder members of both Boca and River originated from the Italian city.
“It would be an opportunity to renew the deep sense of friendship that has historically united us,” he added.
