Copa Libertadores final suspended after bus attack

River Plate and Boca Juniors will reconvene at El Monumental on Sunday after the Copa Libertadores final second leg was postponed.

Published : Nov 25, 2018 07:17 IST

El Monumental ahead of kick-off
El Monumental ahead of kick-off
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El Monumental ahead of kick-off

The Copa Libertadores final second leg has been rescheduled for Sunday after Boca Juniors' bus came under attack outside El Monumental.

Boca travelled across Buenos Aires with the final tied at 2-2 after the opening game at La Bombonera, but deciding a winner will have to wait.

As the visitor's bus made its way towards River Plate's stadium it was showered with projectiles, with some smashing windows of the vehicle.

Eventually the bus arrived at the ground, but reports suggested three players had to be taken to hospital for assessment, while some were believed to have been affected by the use of pepper spray.

CONMEBOL medical officials had deemed the injuries sustained to be "superficial" and approved the match to proceed on Saturday despite Carlos Tevez's protests that Boca was unfit to play.

But after discussions led to several delays, the match was ultimately postponed for a full 24 hours.

It will now kick off at 1700 local time (2000 GMT) on Sunday.

CONMEBOL president Alejandro Dominguez confirmed fans would be allowed into the stadium as River advised supporters to keep hold of tickets.

"Social outcasts do not understand that football is sport, peace," Dominguez told Fox Sports Argentina.

"The match is to be played tomorrow with public present."

The final, the first to be contested by the Buenos Aires rivals, is finely poised at 2-2 following a rollercoaster first leg across town at La Bombonera.

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