Mastantuono proposes, Ramos slows down, and River and Monterrey leave everything pending until the final matchday.

Legend versus future. Sergio Ramos faced Franco Mastantuono tonight. The European Cup trophy case against the hope of governing the old continent. The Camas native and the Azul native were the protagonists of a duel that ended in a draw between River Plate and Monterrey , leaving everything pending until the final matchday, where there could be a three-way tie if River Plate and Inter draw and the Mexicans beat Urawa . Goal difference will decide.

Monterrey started fearlessly. Sergio Canales controlled the ball for the first few minutes and had a chance to put his team ahead with a left-footed shot from the edge of the box, which Armani saved. With the Spaniard, Ocampos, and Corona in attack, and Ramos in defense, the Mexicans dominated the early stages of the match with more experience and drive than River. But physicality and talent ultimately prevailed.

It took him as long as it took Mastantuono to settle on the pitch. The left-footer is a game-changer. He controls his team's attack from the right side, offering diagonal runs, crosses, dangerous crosses, and curling shots. He has, or could have, many of the qualities Real Madrid needs, the club that just signed him in a € 63 million deal. He left the Rose Bowl in Pasadena empty-handed, but he proved he's worth money.

In the 24th minute, he zigzagged across the edge of the box to draw a free kick that he himself would then tip into the top corner, forcing Andrada to stretch out over one of his posts. He didn't stop there.

River Plate grew when Mastantuono gained presence on the ball. He received the ball with enough space to think for half a second and launch his team's attack. The Argentines were the better team, but they didn't finish well on the Mexican goal. In the 46th minute, Mastantuono forced Andrada to curl a shot toward the goalkeeper's right post that looked like it was headed for the goal.

River was close to scoring, and Monterrey was held together by Ramos's clearances and the energy of its defense. They didn't contribute much in attack, barely creating a single counterattack, but the Mexicans were strong at the back, clearing every attempt, and Andrada was a formidable presence in goal.

Mastantuono tried again in the 66th minute with another curling shot into the top corner, where Andrada blasted home. And in the 75th minute, Miguel Borja missed the first of two clear chances he had in the closing stages. Andrada, Rayados' hero, again saved the goal.

River besieged the rival goal seeking definitive qualification so as not to be forced to add points against Inter Milan, but they did not have the goal that they did enjoy against Urawa in the first matchday (3-1).

In the 83rd minute, Marcelo Gallardo withdrew a physically exhausted Mastantuono, and Borja had another brilliant chance in the 90th minute, but Andrada stepped up to save his team. Meanwhile, Ramos, resolute, gave his all with every clearance to keep Monterrey within two points.

On the final day, the Mexicans will face the Japanese side Urawa, already eliminated, knowing that a win almost certainly puts them in the round of 16. River Plate faces Inter with both sides tied on four points and needing points if the Mexicans win. Goal difference will determine everything.