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Boca Juniors Vs River Plate: When To Watch Copa Libertadores 'Superclasico' Final, What Indian Fans Are Missing

Russian President Vladimir Putin is reportedly attending the second leg of the final.

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Boca Juniors Vs River Plate: When To Watch Copa Libertadores 'Superclasico' Final, What Indian Fans Are Missing
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This is the greatest rivalry on the earth, and the two-legged fixture between Boca Juniors and River Plate over the course of next fortnight has already been dubbed the "Superclasico" of the century.

What are they fighting for?

The two Argentenian gaints are fighting for Copa Libertadores, the South American version of the the Champions League. This marks the first time these two rivals have met in the final of the continental tournament. It's also the last time the tournament format will feature a home and away two-leg final.

The South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) already hailed the Copa Libertadores final between Boca Juniors and River Plate as a "historic moment".

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Boca are aiming for their seventh Copa Libertadores title while River are hoping to be champions for a fourth time.

The winners will earn the right to contest next month's FIFA Club World Cup in the United Arab Emirates.

How great or dangerous is the rivalry?

Barcelona-Real Madrid is arguably the most popular rivalry in the world thanks to it's political overtones and the presence of superstars. But when it comes to pure brutality, the explosiveness of of a match, this is the one.

The rivalry between the two sides, both originally from the working class La Boca district of Buenos Aires before Club Atletico River Plate moved to the more upmarket Nunez neighbourhood, started in early 1900s.

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It has been lauded as the greatest in world football by numerous newspapers and magazines. Britain's The Observer claimed it "makes the Old Firm game" between Glasgow rivals Celtic and Rangers that has toxic sectarian undertones "look like a primary school kick-about." Football magazine FourFourTwo, as well as British newspapers The Daily Telegraph and Daily Mirror, have recognised it as the fiercest derby -- known as a Clasico in Spanish -- rivalry on the planet.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is reportedly attending the second leg of the final.

Then what is the Superclasico?

It's the match betweem River and Boca, Argentina's most successful teams. It's so fierce that both clubs have announced fans have been banned from travelling to away matches since 2013.

Over the years, fans have witnessed some of the greatest footballers featuring in the rivalry like Diego Maradona, Gabriel Batistuta and Juan Riquelme. etc.

Road to the final?

Boca Juniors finished second in Group H behind Palmeiras, which also had Alianza Lima (Peru) and Junior (Colombia), while River Plate topped Group D, which also had Flamengo (Brazil), Santa Fe (Colombia) and Emelec (Ecuador).

Then, both the sides overcame Brazilian oppositions in the semi-finals. Boca Jinors beat Palmeiras 4-2 (2-0; 2-2), while River Plate got the better of Gremio 2-2 (0-1;2-1). Gremio were the defending champions. They defeated Argentina's Lanus to claim their third title in 2017.

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When are the matches?

First leg:

Date: November 11 (Sunday)
Time: 1:30 AM IST
Venue: Estadio Alberto J. Armando, Buenos Aires

Second leg:

Date: November 25 (Sunday)
Time: 1:30 AM IST
Venue: Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti, Buenos Aires

India telecast: There is no live TV telecast and live streaming for the match.

Likely XIs:

Boca: Agustin Rossi; Leonardo Jara, Carlos Izquierdoz, Lisandro Magallan, Lucas Olaza; Nahitan Nandez, Wilmar Barrios, Pablo Perez; Sebastian Villa, Ramon Abila, Cristian Pavon.

Squad: GK - Agustin Rossi, Carlos Lampe; DF - Paolo Goltz, Emmanuel Mas, Lisandro Magallan, Carlos Izquierdoz, Julio Buffarini, Locas Olaza; MF - Fernando Gago, Pablo Perez, Nahitan Nandez, Wilmar Barrios, Leonardo Jara, Agustin Almendra, Edwin Cardona; FW - Mauro Zarate, Carlos Tevez, Cristian Pavon, Dario Benedetto, Ramon Abila, Sebastian Villa

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River: Armani; Montiel, Maidana, Pinola, Casco; Palacios, Perez, Fernandez, G. Martinez; Pratto, Borre.

Squad: GK - Franco Armani, German Lux, Ezerquiel Centurion; DF - Jonatan Maidana, Jorge Moreira, Luciano Lollo, Milton Casco, Javier Pinola, Gonzalo Montiel, Kevin Sibile, Nahuel Gallardo, Augusto Aguirre, Hector Martinez; MF - Bronu Zuculini, Juan Fernando Quintero, Gonzalo Martinez, De La Cruz, Santiago Sosa, Exequiel Palacios, Camilo Mayada, Cristian Ferrera, Leonardo Ponzio (captain), Enzo Perez, Ignacio Fernandez, Lucas Martinez; FW - Rodrigo Mora, Julian Alvarez, Rafael Santos Borre, Lucas Pratto, Ignacio Scocco, Lucas Beltran, Benjamin Rollheiser

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