The team led by Marcelo Gallardo faces its first commitment of the season against the Colombian team, which will feature the much-anticipated return of Radamel Falcao. River Plate will begin its football year against Millonarios this Sunday, January 11th, at 21:00 hours, at the Gran Parque Central stadium in Montevideo, in an international friendly corresponding to the Río de la Plata Series. The young goalkeeper played in the Reserve team throughout 2025 and will now seek a good performance to earn a place in Gallardo's considerations. In the absence of Franco Armani and Ezequiel Centurión, River's starting goalkeeper will be Santiago Beltrán. Additionally, the visiting team is undergoing a demanding preseason, aiming to reach the Copa Sudamericana in optimal conditions. In River's goal, the absence of Franco Armani and Ezequiel Centurión for different reasons gives Santiago Beltrán the opportunity to be the starter after his time in the Reserve in 2025. The three have already trained under Gallardo's orders and could add their first minutes with the badge in this friendly. In any case, the coach has not yet defined the eleven that will take the field this weekend in Maldonado. One of the only certainties is the goalkeeper position. In defense, the injury to Marcos Acuña makes Matías Viña the main option for the left-back. The midfield could start with Fausto Vera, while Aníbal Moreno is also a recent addition with a chance to get minutes. The return of Radamel Falcao to Millonarios is one of the main attractions of the match, as he has renewed his contract and will be a key figure for the Colombian team. This match represents the first formal test for the team led by Marcelo Gallardo in 2026.
