A 0-0 draw from both River Plate and Tigres in Mexico tonight s the perfect buildup for the second leg away in Buenos Aires next week as River look to rely on the huge fan atmosphere at the Monumental Stadium. However, it was still a bit of a dull draw in the Estadio Universitario, otherwise known as ''El Volcán'' ("The Volcano") as both sides had various chances going forward throughout the 90 minutes.
Great for River, not for Tigres
Tigres had their first big chance of the match only after 18 minutes when Egidio Arévalo Ríos went for a cross, but it went over Leonel Vangioni's shin and looped just onto the top of the bar. Two minutes later, Rafael Sobis came in with a powerful header, but it went straight into the hands of Marcelo Barovero, from six yards out to deny the Mexicans their first goal of the match. River Plate would have their chances as well. In the 36th minute, following a lovely pass into the box by Uruguayan Carlos Sánchez to Lucas Alario, Nahuel Guzman was able to read well the pass and was able to stop the ball before his Argentine compatriot was able to do so. A booking by Gabriel Mercado following a foul on André Pierre Gignac, means that he will miss the second leg through suspension.
It all comes down to Tango
In the second half, River Plate had attacked more yet Tigres kept trying so hard to get the important goal needed to keep a comfortable lead heading into Buenos Aires next week for the second leg. In the 13th minute, Juninho was able to cut sideways for Guido Pizarro to hit, but the former Lanús man was unable to get it right at a position where it wasn't easy for Barovero to stop, where it went straight into his hands.
Fifteen minutes later, a lifeline and important one heading into the second leg. Los Millionarios manager Marcelo Gallardo was sent off for dissent for arguing with the Paraguayan referee Antonio Arias and will now miss the second leg at home and will be replaced by his assistants Matías Buscay and Hernán Buján.
Four minutes later, Juninho hit a free kick in which Barovero was able to save comfortably. The last chance came six minutes later when Barovero was scrambling in the box after Jurgen Damm beat the Argentine but took too much time to finish and was unable to get a goal.
In the end, the second leg will be settled at the Monumental next Wednesday night in front of a sellout crowd in Buenos Aires where one side will be looking to make history and another will be looking to go back on the map of being South American champions for the third time in their history.