Independiente Starts Year with Win Over Alianza Lima

Independiente started 2026 with a 2-1 victory over Alianza Lima in a friendly match played in Montevideo, Uruguay, as part of the Río de la Plata series. The team, led by Gustavo Quinteros, started at a disadvantage but reacted quickly and managed to turn the game around in just six minutes during the second half. With new signing Ignacio Malcorra watching the match from the stands, 'El Rojo' presented an alternative formation, designed to give playing time to players seeking minutes during the preseason. In this context, Peñarol appears as one of the interested parties, in a situation that has gone from projecting him as a possible starter to leaving him virtually out of the squad. Regarding the transfer market, Independiente completed the signing of Malcorra, who arrived with his pass in hand after three and a half years at Rosario Central. Six minutes later, Santiago Montiel sealed the comeback after a great individual play by Abaldo. The preseason of the Avellaneda club was also marked by the situation of Javier Ruiz, a 21-year-old winger who debuted in the First Division under Carlos Tevez's management in September 2023 and was coming from a loan at Barracas Central. Recalled at Quinteros's request, the player did not show up for a training session and did not travel to Uruguay, which set off alarm bells at the club. Ruiz argued his disagreement with the treatment received economically and sports-wise, while the management maintains a firm stance: he will only leave through a sale. Independiente's response was immediate: at 61, the Uruguayan Matías Abaldo, who had come on for Ignacio Pussetto, scored the equalizer. In the Peruvian team, coached by Pablo Guede, there was no Luis Advíncula, recently incorporated from Boca Juniors, although Argentine forward Federico Girotti was a starter. After a first half with no emotions, Alianza Lima opened the scoring at 57 minutes with a finish from Argentine Alan Cantero. Although he is already training with the squad in Uruguayan soil, he was not called up for the first friendly of the year. The 38-year-old midfielder signed a one-season contract and adds the ninth club of his career.