BUENOS AIRES, Nov. 23 (Xinhua) -- Argentina will come to a standstill on Saturday when Buenos Aires rivals Boca Juniors and River Plate meet in the second leg of the final of the Copa Libertadores - South America's premier club competition.
The clash at River's Monumental Stadium, in the north of Argentina's capital, follows a 2-2 draw in the first leg at Boca's La Bombonera. Here are seven things football fans around the world should know before watching the match.
WHAT'S AT STAKE?
Boca Juniors are aiming to win the Copa Libertadores - South America's version of the UEFA Champions League - for a seventh time while River are gunning for a fourth title.
The winner will earn the right to play in next month's FIFA Club World Cup in the United Arab Emirates. There is also the no small matter of a lifetime of bragging rights for arguably the most passionate fans in world football.
RIVALRY
River and Boca are possibly the most fierce cross-city rivals on the planet. Such is the antagonism that former Argentina center-back Oscar Ruggeri had his house burned down by fans after swapping Boca Juniors for River Plate in the mid-1980s. No player has completed a direct transfer between the clubs since 1997.
Boca-River fan violence is a major reason why away supporters have been barred from attending matches in top competitions in Argentina since 2013. The ban applies to the Copa Libertadores final.
LAST LEGS
This will be the last time that the Copa Libertadores final will be decided over two legs. A competition revamp will see it played as a single match at a neutral venue from next year, ending a format used since the competition's inception in 1960.
NO AWAY GOALS RULE
Football's away goals rule does not apply for the Copa Libertadores final and, as with all South American club competitions, there will be no extra time after 90 minutes on Saturday. A draw - regardless of how many goals are scored - will mean the title is decided on penalties.
PROLIFIC TEVEZ
Carlos Tevez can add to his extraordinary tally of 26 major trophies in four countries by winning his second Copa Libertadores title, 15 years after his first.
The 34-year-old has mostly been limited to cameo appearances off the bench since rejoining his boyhood club from Shanghai Shenhua in January. But Boca manager Guillermo Barros Schelotto said during the week that the former Manchester United, Manchester City and Juventus forward could start on Saturday.
INJURIES
Boca are expected to be without talented winger Cristian Pavon for the final. The Argentina international has failed to recover from a hamstring strain sustained in the first leg, according to local media reports.
River have injury concerns of their own and veteran forward Ignacio Scocco is also unlikely to play after aggravating a calf injury while training this week.
PRESIDENT'S PRESSURE
Argentina's President Mauricio Macri, who served as Boca Juniors president from 1995 to 2007, admitted earlier this month that he could not be a neutral observer of the final.
"I would prefer not to have this final," he said. "It will imply three weeks of no sleeping. It's going to be too much pressure, complete madness." Enditem
