he match was going to be one of the most tense, important sporting events ever played, the second leg of the Copa Libertadores final between Boca Juniors and River Plate. Never before had the Buenos Aires rivals played for the South American title. I couldn't believe my good fortune to be in possession of a ticket as I rode in a bus down one of the city's wide avenues towards the stadium. Because of the violence that plagues Argentina soccer, no visiting Boca fans could attend the match at River's El Monumental. We passed only fans in red and white shirts, singing River Plate songs. The streets were lined with riot cops wearing black armor. I should've paid them more attention, given the chaos that would overtake the city in the next two days. The match was two hours away and just a few blocks away, the Boca Juniors bus was trying to navigate the madness.
In the first leg at Boca's famous La Bombonera, the two teams tied 2-2, setting up one game for a title that the winning fans would brag about for generations. River supporters still sing songs about 2015 when a Boca fan leaned over the tunnel and pepper-sprayed the River team returning to the pitch after halftime. River refused to play, which led to Boca being forced to forfeit. The song lyrics call Boca supporters "cowards" and "b----es." Four years earlier, River were relegated to the B Division for the first time in their 100-plus year history and graffiti stencils of ghosts wearing the letter "B" still cover La Boca. The spray-painted ghosts infuriate River fans, who can only stare at the taunting walls and know there is nothing they can say. Fear of losing face and standing have driven an anxiety that, as strange as this sounds, was absolutely palpable in the city -- and on our bus.
Two River fans sat next to me in the last row. They talked softly to themselves, but my translator could hear.
"This could change my day so much," one said.
His friend looked at him.
"No," he replied. "My life."
He paused.
"I went to the psychologist Friday and only talked about this," he said.
“People are more afraid of losing than they are excited about with.
