By Amanda Barnes for The Mendoza SunIt’s the match that football legends are made of, the one match every football fan has to see once in their life, and the most notorious football rivalry in not just Argentina but perhaps in the world… El Superclasico: Boca vs River. And it’s coming to Mendoza on Sunday.
This Sunday in El Estadio Malvinas (Parque San Martin) at 10pm the two super titans of Argentine football will come head to head in a friendly match which is sure to be one of the most attended match in the stadium with 18,000 tickets originally up for grabs, and some prices exceeding over $200 pesos.
Both teams were founded in La Boca in the early 20th century (River Plate in 1901 and Boca Juniors in 1905) and with their close proximity in location and foundation years they were destined from birth to be the biggest rivals. But when River moved to more affluent Nunez district the rivalry became one of social class too: Boca remaining with a working class support base from impoverished La Boca, and River now gaining a more middle class fanbase and so nicknamed ‘los millionarios’. However nowadays these hotly supported teams (which command over 70% of Argentine football supporters) both have fans from all social classes.
With a history of closely knit matches, Boca has so far won 125 games while River remains only just behind on 107 wins and the pair have drawn over 100 times with each other. However this friendly match on Sunday will be unusual as River was relegated for the first time in June 2011 to the second league division, leaving its rival Boca towering over it in the first division. That’s not to say that Boca have a better chance though… as fans say, each River vs Boca game is played as if it was the very last and most important match, regardless of the stakes.
The tension between the two will also always be shrouded in tragedy after the worst football related incident in Argentine history when 71 fans died in what is known as the ‘Puerta 12’ tragedy. On 23 June 1968, in River’s El Monumental stadium the 71 fans from both teams were killed and over 150 others injured after a huge crush at Gate 12 after the match. There are mixed stories about what happened that evening but following a three year investigation, an enquiry found no-one guilty.
Since then rival fans have had different entrance and exit points to avoid any clash or fighting. And without a doubt Mendoza’s match on Sunday will have the tightest security. The tension, drama and history of it all make this one of those matches that you have to see in your lifetime!
Where? Estadio Malvinas, Avenida Los Platanos , Parque San Martin
When? Sunday 26 January, 10pm
