A dramatic confrontation broke out at the start of the second half between Gimnasia and River Plate at El Bosque, involving former teammates Nacho Fernandez and Gonzalo Montiel. Merely three minutes into the half, Montiel attempted a pass near the left touchline before Fernandez arrived late and planted a heavy stamp directly onto his right ankle.
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Subscribe Sekarang →According to reports from the pitch, the tackle left the defender writhing in pain on the turf while players swarmed the area amid growing frustration over referee Leandro Rey Hilfer's decision not to issue a yellow card. New River Plate captain Nicolas Otamendi led the protests, heavily criticizing the officiating crew for their lenient stance throughout the match.
While Montiel struggled on the ground, suggestions of a potential substitution sparked immediate concern for manager Eduardo Coudet before the player ultimately decided to continue. Meanwhile, Fernandez offered a provocative reaction near the incident, heightening the tension between the competing sides.
Speaking to ESPN after the final whistle, Fernandez addressed the fiery episode by emphasizing his competitive commitment. "Yes, I am a professional. As I always say, I am grateful to River and all the people, I lived eight wonderful years. I respect the River fans and the World Cup champions very much, but today I had to defend this shirt and I do it to the death", Fernandez stated.