Diego Armando Maradona, Juan Roman Riquelme and Carlos Tevez on one side.Hernan Crespo, Ariel Ortega and Havier Saviola on the other.Claudio Caniggia and Gabriel Batistuta in between, as they stared for both of them.Boca players in front of the banner dedicated to Diego Maradona (©Juan Ignacio Roncoroni – Pool/Getty Images)Those are the most famous names and ingredients of more than a century old treasure – the Argentine Superclasico. Since 1913, River Plate and Boca Juniors have been much more than Buenos Aires-based rivals. Their relationship has been fueled with passion, hate, even more hate, tons of it, with those splendid players embellished with packed stands and ‘la hincha’ – thousands of fans religiously attached to their favourite clubs…To be totally honest with you, in the last couple of years, the quality of football displayed in Superclasico can hardly be labelled as astonishing. Too nervous, occasionally even chaotic, but file it under passion affairs, because on that tiny part of the globe, football is more than a game and much less than a business – it’s the part of a culture and heritage that keeps living on a desire and excitement and agony and euphoria, that needs no order nor structure nor rational causes, that is great for its wrong, that is the essence of the Argentinians, let alone their football.(2.40) RIVER PLATE (3.10) BOCA JUNIORS (3.20)For the reasons mentioned above, if you find it hard to fell asleep at night, tune in tonight around 23.00 and witness that larger-than-life and more-than-a-derby tie. The match will be played at River Plate’s Monumental Stadium, and what’s the most important – in front of fans, or at least with 50 per cent of the total capacity allowed, which is around 35.000.##EDITORS_CHOICE##It would promise not more than a mild atmosphere in some other country, but with ‘la hincha’ in the terraces, it’s enough to turn that football ground into a hotbed of ecstasy.Boca vs. River.Torneo Apertura, año 1998. pic.twitter.com/YYpWPEZ2qi— De Riquelme a Messi (@RiquelmeaMessi) September 29, 2021 When it comes to comparing the two sides, River are the current runners-up, while Boca face a mid-table life that is quite frustrating for their fans accustomed to titles and accolades.Plenty of motives on both sides to fight heavily for the win and write another chapter in the fascinating history of Superclasico.By: Bojan Babic
