Amazing

Wow

That´s why, for an Argentinian referee, to be nominated to referee a Superclasico is one of the most important moments of his career: it´s a big honor but also a huge responsability. He will have to manage a very intense game, where the victory will be hardly conceded at the very end of the match. And he´ll be observed and judged by many thousands of people inside the stadium, but by millions outisde it.

My friend experience

Baldassi knew what refereeing a River-Boca was. And he used his experience for keeping the actions under his control almost always. He respected his style - talking to the players, sometimes laughing with them, is part of his way of refereeing - but he took the rules with him and made them govern. During the 1st half, Baldassi booked 5 players, always correctly and because of hard faults. At 45´, Boca mid-field Ever Banega, trying to get the ball, violently kicked River defender Paulo Ferrari; he was booked and Baldassi showed him the 2nd yellow and then the red. This might have been a direct red.

Senior Assistant

It´s also difficult to concede a penalty in a Superclasico. That action will be repeated once, twice, three times... everywhere... slowly... River little star Buonanotte (161 cms, 59 kgs) entered Boca´s area in control of the ball and was displaced by Boca defender Paletta (189 cms, 88 kgs). Baldassi didn´t doubt: penalty. When Ortega kicked, Boca goalkeeper moved like 1m forward before stopping the ball, and Senior Assistant Referee Rodolfo Otero (the one that refereed in last WC Final) flagged and told the referee that the penalty had to be repeated. Excellent for him. The referee team was really a team and they did a very good job.

River crushed Boca

What about the game? There was only one team in the playground: River controlled the ball, created goal situations and could have scored once or twice more. Boca was never dangerous and should thank for not having left the Monumental even more injured. They will have to improve in order to obtain their best level for playing the FIFA Clubs World Cup, against AC Milan an others, in next December.