A Defense on Borrowed Time for a Decisive Night
This Wednesday, August 19, 2026, at 9:30 PM (Argentine time), River Plate will face Independiente Santa Fe at El Campín Stadium in Bogotá for the first leg of the Copa Sudamericana round of 16. The match, originally scheduled for last week, was postponed due to the 7.4 magnitude earthquake that struck Colombia on August 10.
Eduardo Coudet's squad arrives with renewed momentum after a 2-0 victory over Argentinos Juniors on Sunday at the Monumental, snapping a streak of six consecutive losses. But the joy was short-lived: Gonzalo Montiel, who scored the opening goal against Argentinos, suffered a left adductor strain and was ruled out of the trip to Colombia.
"He's the only available right-back on the Copa Sudamericana roster," confirmed sources from the coaching staff.
The Problem: A 50-Player List and Not a Single '4' Available
The situation is as unusual as it is worrying for the coaching staff. When compiling the good-faith list for the Copa Sudamericana, River registered 50 players, but regulations only allow 5 changes per round. And here lies the crux of the issue:
- Giovanni González, a new signing this transfer window, was not registered.
- Francisco Ortega, his natural replacement on the left, is also not on the list.
- Fabricio Bustos is training separately, awaiting a decision on his future away from the club.
- Ulises Giménez was loaned to Sarmiento, and Matías Unyicio to Racing de Montevideo.
- Lucas Obregón and Thiago Salvatierra are injured.
Given this scenario, the only natural right-back available is Yutiel Susano, a 19-year-old youth player who has not yet made his First Division debut and does not even have a professional contract.
Who is Yutiel Susano, the Kid from La Matanza Rising to the Occasion?
Ángel Yutiel Susano was born on January 31, 2007 in Isidro Casanova, La Matanza district (a working-class area on the outskirts of Buenos Aires). Standing at 1.76 meters, right-footed, he joined River in 2015 at just 8 years old after passing a trial. Eleven years later, the dream has become tangible: he traveled to Bogotá for a decisive Sudamericana tie.
Known among teammates as "Terry" or "Sasu", he trained primarily as a right-sided center-back, but his versatility led him to play both fullback positions, central defense, and even midfield. In the Reserve team, coach Marcelo Escudero even used him as a central midfielder. "He gave me the confidence to play as a '5' (defensive midfielder)," the player himself explained after a match in Tucumán.
His Reserve stats are modest: 14 matches, 957 minutes, 1 goal, and no assists. He debuted in the category this year against Unión and, curiously, scored a goal in that match. A pubalgia (sports hernia) recently slowed his progress, but it didn't prevent him from gaining experience with the senior squad: he trained with the first team in Cardales during the March FIFA international break, completed the pre-season in Spain, and traveled to Portugal for a friendly against Flamengo on July 3.
"I feel immense pride in defending the River shirt, and whenever I step onto the pitch, I defend it with my life," he once said.
Coudet's Options: Back Three or Debut for the Kid?
In the last tactical rehearsal before traveling, Coudet tried Lucas Martínez Quarta shifted to right-back and Facundo González on the left, with Nicolás Otamendi and Lautaro Rivero as the central duo. He also rehearsed a three-man defense, with Tobías Andrada or Juan Cruz Meza as wing-backs.
The two most likely starting lineups are:
| Option 1 (Back Four) | Option 2 (Back Three) |
|---|---|
| Santiago Beltrán; Martínez Quarta, Otamendi, Rivero, Facundo González; Moreno, Andrada; Correa, Almada; Freitas, Borré | Santiago Beltrán; Otamendi, Martínez Quarta, Rivero; Andrada or Meza, Moreno, Vera; Correa, Almada; Freitas, Borré |
In the first option, Facundo González — formerly of Central Córdoba, with limited minutes this semester — would be the left-back, and Susano would start on the bench. In the second, the youngster could get his chance. There is also speculation that the coach might opt for a three-man midfield (Aníbal Moreno, Tobías Andrada, and Fausto Vera) to pack the center of the park in Bogotá's altitude (2,553 meters above sea level).
Other Absences and Borré's Return
In addition to Montiel, River will also be without Marcos Acuña, who is recovering from a hamstring tear. Both are targeting a return on Sunday against Vélez in the Torneo Clausura (the Argentine domestic league).
In attack, Lucas Beltrán was not registered for the round of 16, so Rafael Santos Borré will be the starting center-forward, flanked by Ángel Correa and Joaquín Freitas. Thiago Almada, one of the standout performers in his debut against Argentinos, will play as the attacking midfielder.
Sebastián Driussi, with a month of recovery from a torn calf muscle, could receive medical clearance and join the squad, though it's more likely he'll wait for the weekend.
A Match That Transcends Sport
This fixture carries special weight: it is the first international match in Colombia since the devastating earthquake that left 289 dead, 4,187 injured, and 143 missing, according to official figures. Conmebol decided to keep the venue in Bogotá as a gesture of solidarity with the Colombian people.
The winner of this tie will face the victor of the São Paulo vs. Bolívar clash in the quarterfinals.
Match Details
- Time: 9:30 PM (Argentine time)
- TV: ESPN and DSports
- Referee: Jesús Valenzuela (Venezuela)
- Stadium: El Campín, Bogotá
Sources: TyC Sports, El Día, La Nación.