River Plate vs. Godoy Cruz Prediction, Match Preview and Betting Tips, 17 August 2025

This Liga Profesional clash on 17th August 2025 pits River Plate, sitting comfortably in 3rd place with 8 points, against Godoy Cruz, who are languishing in 27th position with just 3 points. The match kicks off at 22:30 and predictions strongly favour River Plate, especially given their impressive clean sheet record and overall form.

River Plate, under the guidance of Marcelo Gallardo, have been rock solid defensively, not conceding a single goal in their last 5 games. Their attacking line, led by Facundo Colidio, who has netted 2 goals, is expected to light up the pitch. The home side boasts a strong record of scoring in 85% of their home matches this season and tends to start fast, making the bet “River Plate wins the 1st half” a solid choice.

Meanwhile, Godoy Cruz, coached by Walter Ribonetto, have struggled, evident from their five-match winless streak. Key player Agustin Auzmendi, with just 1 goal, will need to find his form to challenge River Plate’s defense.

Expect an engaging battle, likely with over 2.5 goals given River’s attacking prowess.

River Plate vs Godoy Cruz Prediction & Betting Tip

With River Plate’s strong home record and Godoy Cruz’s struggling form, the recommended betting tip for this match is “River Plate to win the 1st half.”

River Plate vs Godoy Cruz Prediction
Betting tip	Odds
River Plate to win the 1st half	1.41

• Superior home form: River Plate has been impressive at home, scoring in 85% of their matches this season.
• Struggling opponents: Godoy Cruz has not won in 5 consecutive matches, making them less likely to upset the hosts early.
• Fast starters: River Plate tends to start fast and take early control, as seen with their tendency to press high and score early goals.

River Plate vs Godoy Cruz Odds

The betting odds clearly reflect River Plate’s dominance over Godoy Cruz in this Liga Profesional clash. As the bookmaker favourite, River Plate are strongly tipped to take the win, especially given their solid form and Godoy Cruz’s recent struggles.

River Plate vs Godoy Cruz Betting Odds
Bet	Odds
River Plate	1.41
Draw	4.16
Godoy Cruz	8.10

• Favourites: At 1.41, bookmakers expect River Plate to come out on top, thanks to their impressive home and season form.
• Underdogs: With odds of 8.10, Godoy Cruz is seen as the heavy underdog, reflecting their poor performance so far this season.
• Potential Draw: Odds of 4.16 for a draw indicate a relatively low expectation of a stalemate, given River Plate’s strong record of scoring in most of their home matches.

River Plate Team Analysis

River Plate Recent Performance

River Plate has been in solid form recently with a record of WDWDD in their last five matches. They are currently holding 3rd position in the Liga Profesional with 8 points.

Their defensive prowess is noteworthy, with 5 clean sheets in their last 5 games, underlining their robust backline led by top players like Paulo Díaz and Gonzalo Montiel. On the offensive front, they have averaged 1.40 goals per game, showcasing their capability to find the back of the net consistently.

Moreover, River Plate has an impressive record of scoring in 85% of their home matches this season, making them a daunting opponent at their home ground.

Recent Matches:

• Libertad 0-0 River Plate (Copa Libertadores)
• Independiente 0-0 River Plate (Clausura)
• San Martin de Tucuman 0-3 River Plate (Cup)
• River Plate 0-0 San Lorenzo (Clausura)
• Instituto 0-4 River Plate (Clausura)

River Plate Key Players

River Plate boasts a robust lineup of talented players. Facundo Colidio, the top scorer with 2 goals in the league, and Miguel Borja, who has 6 goals in the tournament overall, lead the attack. Their ability to exploit defensive frailties will be crucial.

Key defensive stalwarts like Paulo Díaz and Marcos Acuña ensure a solid backline that has kept 5 clean sheets in the last 5 games. Supporting them in midfield, Enzo Perez provides invaluable experience and control.

Expected lineup for River Plate:

• Goalkeeper: Franco Armani
• Defenders: Gonzalo Montiel, Paulo Díaz, Lautaro Rivero, Marcos Acuña
• Midfielders: Matías Galarza Fonda, Kevin Castano, Enzo Perez
• Attackers: Santiago Lencina, Miguel Borja, Facundo Colidio

Individual battles to watch: Miguel Borja vs Mateo Mendoza and Facundo Colidio vs Leandro Quiroz. These matchups could be pivotal in determining the game’s outcome.

River Plate Suspensions & Injuries

River Plate has a few notable injuries that could impact their squad depth. Key players like Agustín Ruberto, Maximiliano Meza, and Maximiliano Salas are sidelined with various injuries, with potential returns still a few weeks away. Additionally, Lucas Martinez Quarta and German Pezzella will miss out, with Pezzella being out for the season due to a cruciate ligament injury.

The absence of these players might affect the defensive and attacking options available to coach Marcelo Gallardo. However, with the depth in their squad, River Plate should have adequate replacements to mitigate these absences.

There are no suspensions reported, which means Gallardo can field his strongest available lineup against Godoy Cruz.

River Plate Tactics and Formation

River Plate Tactical Breakdown:

• Formation: 4-3-3
• Key Forward: Facundo Colidio
• Midfield Trio: Matías Galarza Fonda, Kevin Castano, Enzo Perez
• Defensive Strength: Five clean sheets in the last five games.

River Plate, under Marcelo Gallardo, are expected to line up in a 4-3-3 formation. They rely on a solid defensive base, conceding an average of just 0.5 goals per game this season. The central defence duo of Paulo Díaz and Lautaro Rivero will be crucial in maintaining their strong defensive record.

In midfield, Enzo Perez will look to control the game, supported by Matías Galarza Fonda and Kevin Castano. Up front, Facundo Colidio and Miguel Borja provide the firepower, with Borja being the top scorer in the tournament with 6 goals.

River Plate typically play attacking football, heavily pressing their opponents and often scoring early in the match, making the first half crucial.

Godoy Cruz Team Analysis

Godoy Cruz Recent Performance

Godoy Cruz has struggled in recent matches, with a record of DDDLL in their last five games. They currently find themselves in 27th position in the Liga Profesional with just 3 points.

Despite their poor form, they have managed to secure 2 clean sheets in their last five matches, showing some resilience in defence. However, their offensive statistics are underwhelming, averaging just 0.60 goals per game.

Recent Matches:

• Atletico MG 2-1 Godoy Cruz (Copa Sudamericana)
• Godoy Cruz 1-2 Gimnasia LP (Clausura)
• Talleres 0-0 Godoy Cruz (Clausura)
• Godoy Cruz 0-0 Sarmiento (Clausura)
• Rosario Central 1-1 Godoy Cruz (Clausura)

Their inability to find the back of the net consistently could be a significant issue against River Plate’s robust defence.

Godoy Cruz Key Players

Godoy Cruz will rely heavily on their key players to challenge River Plate in this clash. Agustin Auzmendi, the top scorer with 1 goal, will look to break through River Plate’s formidable defence. In goal, Franco Petroli’s performance will be crucial in keeping the scoreline in check.

Defensively, Mateo Mendoza and Leandro Quiroz will be responsible for marking River Plate’s attackers like Facundo Colidio and Miguel Borja, key individual battles that could determine the outcome of the match.

Expected lineup for Godoy Cruz:

• Goalkeeper: Franco Petroli
• Defenders: Leonardo Jara, Mateo Mendoza, Leandro Quiroz, Juan Moran
• Midfielders: Vicente Poggi, Maximiliano Gonzalez, Nicolás Fernández
• Attackers: Misael Sosa, Agustin Auzmendi, Santino Andino

Key individual battles include Agustin Auzmendi vs Lautaro Rivero and Nicolas Fernandez vs Enzo Perez, which are likely to be pivotal in the game’s dynamics.

Godoy Cruz Suspensions & Injuries

Godoy Cruz is relatively fortunate in terms of injuries, with only one significant absentee. Tomas Pozzo is currently out with an unknown injury but is expected to return by late August 2025. This limits Walter Ribonetto’s choices in midfield, affecting their depth and potentially their creative options on the field.

The rest of the squad is available for selection, giving Ribonetto the chance to field a competitive lineup against River Plate. No suspensions have been reported, allowing Godoy Cruz to deploy their best possible team for this difficult away fixture.

Overall, while the absence of Pozzo could affect midfield dynamics, the team should still be capable of putting up a disciplined performance.

Godoy Cruz Tactics and Formation

Godoy Cruz Tactical Breakdown:

• Formation: 4-3-3
• Key Forward: Agustin Auzmendi
• Midfield Trio: Vicente Poggi, Maximiliano Gonzalez, Nicolás Fernández
• Defensive Strength: Two clean sheets in the last five games.

Godoy Cruz, led by Walter Ribonetto, are expected to line up in a 4-3-3 formation aiming for a disciplined and compact approach. The defence, featuring key players like Mateo Mendoza and Leandro Quiroz, will need to be at their best to contain River Plate’s attacking threat.

In midfield, Poggi, Gonzalez, and Fernandez will be crucial in both disrupting River Plate’s play and providing service to the forwards. Agustin Auzmendi, the top scorer for Godoy Cruz, will look to exploit any defensive lapses and create scoring opportunities.

Although they have struggled to score, their tactical setup aims for solidity at the back and quick counter-attacks, making use of any space left by River Plate’s offensive pressures.

River Plate vs Godoy Cruz Head-to-Head Statistics

In their last five meetings, these two teams have showcased an unpredictable set of results:

• Godoy Cruz 0-0 River Plate (2025-02-13, Liga Profesional Apertura)
• Godoy Cruz 2-1 River Plate (2024-07-24, Liga Profesional)
• River Plate 3-0 Godoy Cruz (2023-03-12, Liga Profesional)
• River Plate 0-2 Godoy Cruz (2022-07-10, Liga Profesional)
• Godoy Cruz 2-1 River Plate (2021-08-07, Liga Profesional)

Overall, Godoy Cruz holds a slight upper hand with 3 wins out of the last 5 encounters. However, considering the current form and recent performances, River Plate appears to be in a stronger position for this upcoming clash.

These head-to-head stats show that while Godoy Cruz has managed to spring surprises in the past, River Plate’s current form suggests they’re more likely to dominate this time around.

Odds accurate as of 15.08.2025 22:31, and are subject to change.
Please always check the odds before placing your bets with any bookmaker.