The saga continues
The Superclasico Copa Libertadores final, for all the hype there was in the buildup to it, has become something of a farce.
With fierce Buenos Aires rivals Boca Juniors and River Plate still to conclude the final following the fallout from River fans’ attack on Boca’s team bus last weekend, it’s now been decided the second leg will take place in Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu stadium next week.
This, as you’ve probably heard by now, is a far from perfect solution to the problem – especially with it emerging that fans of both clubs may be able to sit in the same part of the stadium for the game.
The decision to play the game in Madrid could also have a consequence for River’s captain, Leo Ponzio. The midfielder is in his second spell with River, having previously played in Spain with Real Zaragoza. As pointed out by AS, Ponzio was accused by Spanish authorities of fixing a game between Zaragoza and Levante in 2011.
River believe that his alleged involvement could prevent him from playing in Spain, even though the Libertadores final is a CONMEBOL game. AS claim the club’s lawyers are investigating whether the 36-year-old, who has recovered from the thigh strain which kept him out of the first leg of the final, will be able to play in the match.
Just when you thought the Copa Libertadores final couldn't get any weirder… River captain Leo Ponzio could be banned from playing in Spain due to charges of match-fixing incurred while he was at Real Zaragoza.
— Daniel Edwards 💚 (@DanEdwardsGoal) November 30, 2018
The decision to play the final in Madrid was reached after it seemed the game might be staged in Qatari capital, Doha. With the winners of the game due to travel to contest the World Club Cup in the United Arab Emirates days later, some felt staging the game in the Middle East might have been a logical decision.
