Boca-River final in Madrid will be ‘ weird’ admits Carlos Tevez

Boca Juniors striker Carlos Tevez admitted that playing the Libertadores Cup final secondleg in Madrid on Sunday will be “weird” but rejected suggestions River Plate are at a disadvantage.

The match was moved to

Real Madrid’s Bernabeu after the original fixture at River’s El Monumental stadium was postponed last month, following an attack by their fans on Boca’s team bus.

South America’s football federation, CONMEBOL, ruled River should lose the chance to play at home, with the game moved abroad amid fears over further fan violence.

“It is a weird final,” Tevez said. “To play a match between Boca and River in Madrid, it’s weird. But as a player, it is important to stay focused.”

Argentina’s two greatest football rivals competing for South America’s most prestigious club prize in Spain has proven controversial, with both clubs unhappy.

Boca believe the chaos caused by River’s fans means they should be awarded the trophy while River have protested against the loss of home advantage enjoyed by their opponents in the first leg, which finished 2-2.

Both sets of fans have been allowed an equal allocation of 25,000 tickets for the match in Madrid, despite away fans being banned at Boca’s Bombonera ground, as they would have been at El Monumental.

Asked if River’s chances had been damaged, Tevez said: “I don’t think so. River have a lot more pressure playing at home and now it is 50-50.”