Overview
- The fixture kicks off at 15:00 at Estadio Florencio Sola on Sunday, August 30, 2026, with Leandro Rey Hilfer named referee and live broadcasts on ESPN/ESPN Premium plus regional streaming partners.
- Leonardo Ponzio takes charge as interim head coach after Eduardo Coudet’s resignation following River’s Copa Sudamericana exit and has led only a handful of training sessions before this game.
- River sit on four points in Zone B and need a positive result to revive hopes of reaching the Torneo Clausura playoffs and returning to continental competition in the annual table.
- Banfield arrive with irregular league form but recent momentum from beating Midland to reach the Copa Argentina quarterfinals and hold seven points in the zone.
- Shortly before kickoff River lost midfielder Aníbal Moreno to a lumbar contracture which removed him from the matchday squad and forced Ponzio to adjust his planned midfield selection.