Maidana: River Plate wants Real Madrid clash

After winning the Copa Libertadores, River Plate defender Jonatan Maidana is eager to face Real Madrid.

Published : Dec 10, 2018 10:11 IST

River Plate defender Jonatan Maidana with the Copa Libertadores trophy.
River Plate defender Jonatan Maidana with the Copa Libertadores trophy.
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River Plate defender Jonatan Maidana with the Copa Libertadores trophy.

River Plate defender Jonatan Maidana is eyeing a meeting with Real Madrid after his team's Copa Libertadores success on Sunday.

A 3-1 second-leg win over rival Boca Juniors in Madrid saw River seal a 5-3 aggregate success.

That sent Marcelo Gallardo's men to the United Arab Emirates for the Club World Cup, where it will face ES Tunis, Al Ain or Team Wellington before a potential meeting with European champion Madrid.

Maidana said River was targeting a clash against the LaLiga giant later this month.

"Now we go for Real Madrid, our next goal," the defender said, via TyC Sports .

"We won a fair final, now to celebrate the achievement."

River had to come from behind in the second leg, Lucas Pratto cancelling out Dario Benedetto's opener to force extra-time.

Wilmar Barrios' red card turned the game in River's favour and it made the most of its numerical advantage, goals from Juan Quintero and Gonzalo Martinez securing its win.

"A lot of the match was very even," Maidana said. "After the equaliser we managed well and we could win it.

"In the second half we improved, because in the first we made a big mistake. We talked at half-time and we tried not to miss so many passes and we achieved [our goal], because we dominated the game."

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