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Football

24th Nov 2018

Superclásico second leg postponed after Boca Juniors squad injured in pre-match bus attack

The second leg of the most historic clash between the two Buenos Aires sides was suspended and after the Boca Juniors bus was attacked

Reuben Pinder

Finally, reason prevailed

The second leg of this year’s Copa Libertadores final between Boca Juniors and River Plate has been suspended after the away team were the victims of an ambush on their way to El Monumental, River’s home stadium.

Glass bottles were hurled at the team bus, breaking windows and inflicting such damage on some players that they had to go to hospital.

Carlos Tevez was one of the worst affected Boca players, while others lay in the changing room, vomiting after inhaling tear gas that was unleashed upon the bus during the ambush.

https://twitter.com/lanumero12comar/status/1066420961354895361?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1066420961354895361&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.joe.co.uk%2Fsport%2Fcopa-libertadores-final-delayed-after-carlos-tevez-and-other-boca-players-attacked-outside-stadium-209680

Rubber bullets were fired by riot police outside the ground as tensions flared between them and home fans.

Tevez and his teammate Fernando Gago complained that CONMEBOL were forcing the players to take part in the match despite the obvious reasons to call it off.

Pablo Perez, having gone to hospital to receive treatment on his injured eye, was in line to start the match had it gone ahead – can’t knock their commitment.

Eventually, reason prevailed, with reports circulating that River Plate players joined their rivals in their refusal to play.

It is now scheduled to take place tomorrow at 5pm local time, 8pm UK time. Set your watches. It should be a good one.