River Plate will be without one of their major attacking threats for the much-anticipated second leg of the Copa Libertadores final against Boca Juniors.

Ignacio Scocco, who Premier League fans will remember from a brief period at Sunderland, is almost certain to miss the big game on Saturday at el Monumental after failing to recover from a calf injury.

The 33-year-old striker is highly thought-of in Argentina, having helped propel Newell's Old Boys to a domestic title a few years ago before his failed move to Wearside, and his absence is a further blow to a River side that are already without striker Rafael Santos Borré.

Coach Marcelo Gallardo will either have to change his system or gamble on Uruguayan forward Rodrigo Mora to replace Scocco.

Mora, briefly of Benfica, has a good record in Superclasicos but the same could be said of Scocco, who got the game-sealing strike when River met Boca in September.