Getty Image / Matias Baglietto / NurPhoto
The Superclásico in Argentina is one of the most heated and famous rivalries in all of sports.
Superclásico is the matchup between bitter rivals River Plate and Boca Juniors, the two most successful and popular soccer clubs in Argentina.
The latest Superclásico matchup between River Plate and Boca Juniors ended with a 1-0 win for the hosts, River Plate. But not before seven players were sent off with red cards in extra time after an all-out brawl erupted on the field.
The brawl broke out around 4 minutes into stoppage time after the 90th minute of the game. It wasn’t until over 10 minutes later that players received red cards because the River Plate and Boca Juniors squads had to be settled down over the course of fifteen minutes.
Footage of the scuffle on the pitch went viral on social media:
River Plate score on Boca Juniors and a melee ensues! 😳 pic.twitter.com/lHJsQnkPJq
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) May 7, 2023
It all apparently started because River Plate’s Agustín Palavecino began celebrating their goal in front of the Boca players. That was the catalyst that set things off.
On Twitter, people wrote:
“Every game is a battle between these two.”
“This is what non-soccer-loving Americans think every soccer game is like.”
Miguel Borja finishing his celebrations and then turning around and seeing the full out brawl that formed in a second pic.twitter.com/XDXR8nQS5m
— MGA (@sweetmateofries) May 8, 2023
Boca Juniors holds the lead in the all-time Superclásico rivalry, winning 91 games to River Plate’s 84. The teams’ rivalry match has ended in a tie on 83 occasions.
This has been an odd season in Argentine football for the Boca Juniors. They currently sit in 13th in the Argentine 1st Division and 19 points off rival River Plate who are in first after 15 matches.
All 7 players who received red cards in the game will now have to sit out. That doesn’t bode well for Boca Juniors who sit in 13th place after 15 matches.