The match started off even, with both teams trying to control the ball and create opportunities from the midfield. River had the first two opportunities thanks to José Paradela and a pass from Santiago Simón to Salomón Rondón that went too long. The home team counterattacked twice, and Robert Rojas took center stage, making two great and timely clearances.
River set up a dangerous play with a shot from Elías Gomez, but Tomás Marchiori made a low save on it. On the next play, Atlético Tucumán took the lead with a goal from Mateo Coronel. When Paradela was sent off, the team had to reorganize on the field and go for the draw. Jonatan Maidana won a set-piece header, only for the keeper to save his shot; Pablo Solari struck a cross from the right-hand side, but no teammate collected it, and Agustín Palavecino almost evened the score with a free kick.
At the start of the second half, Solari made a great run up the right-hand side following a pass from Miguel Borja, but he couldn't strike comfortably, and his shot went long. On another clear opportunity, Gómez ran up the left-hand side following a good collective play and sent a dangerous cross to the heart of the box. The home team threatened River’s goal after the 65th minute, but Franco Armani made a good save on a shot from Coronel, deflecting it wide.
In the end, River was rewarded: off a corner kick, Joaquín Pereyra scored an own goal with a header, sealing the 1-1 draw. The team managed by Demichelis sits at the top with 34 points, as the sole leader of the Professional League. River’s next match will be against Fluminense away in Brazil, on Tuesday, for the CONMEBOL Libertadores title; on Sunday, River will host Boca Juniors at the Mâs Monumental stadium for a new edition of the “Superclásico” (Argentina’s greatest derby).