While it was always expected that the second-leg of tonight's Copa Libertadores final would be a fiery affair, River vs Boca has been postponed following the attack of the former team's bus on arrival at the stadium.
Met by a barrage of River Plate fans, the Boca Juniors bus was pelted with missiles and, crucially, tear gas. Having the desired effect, some of the players on board suffered from the ill-effects of this attack.
Reports a window on the Boca bus was smashed, admitting tear gas fired by the police to clear River fans.
— Jonathan Wilson (@jonawils) November 24, 2018
Not the first time such an implement has been used by fans in match-ups between these two, it was reported shortly before the scheduled kick-off time that a certain selection of Boca players would be unable to compete as a result of the condition they were in.
Videos emerging in the immediate aftermath outlined the destruction that had been brought upon the Boca bus, and the vulnerability of the players on-board as a result.
TREMENDO | Así quedó el micro de Boca tras los incidentes. Qué locura. @marca https://t.co/6pF2eVaMYH pic.twitter.com/OPP42yGUAe
— MARCA Claro Argentina (@MARCAClaroARG) November 24, 2018
Footage similarly emerged of the bus as it arrived at Estadio Monumental ahead of the River vs Boca clash.
It all stems from this as Boca's bus got pelted arriving at the stadium and the windows were smashed [Via @TNTSportsLA]
pic.twitter.com/QRYAMpVlks— GOLAZO (@golazoargentino) November 24, 2018
In the end, it was decided that kick-off would be pushed back an hour to 6:00pm local time (9:00pm in Ireland). Although this decision seems a little bit optimistic, perhaps.
Confirmation kick off is 6pm, delayed by an hour. That seems extraordinary
— Jonathan Wilson (@jonawils) November 24, 2018
What a situation. If game called off, 70,000 River fans must leave stadium for game they badly want. If it goes ahead - as now looks likely - and Boca lose, there could be some potential fall-out.
— Miguel Delaney (@MiguelDelaney) November 24, 2018
