And during the off season the club from Buenos Aires lost Cavenaghi and Chori Dominguez and the signings made have not been of great quality either.
Yes, the big new name is former Velez goalkeeper, Barovero, but the manager Almeyda, decided to stick with Vega for this game.
And his faith cost him dearly as a mistake from the number 1, gifted Belgrano the opening goal on the 44th minute.
Up to that point it was very little from both teams, with the home team having more possession but the visitors having the best chances.
The returning Manuel Lanzini (was on loan to Fluminense last season), was very mobile and a threat down the left side of River’s attack, and Lucas Ocampos tried hard on the right but alternated good ones with very bad ones.
The raw talent for the youngster is there, but he is far away from being the final product at the moment.
Up front Funes Mori and Trezeguet were too far away and well marked to bring any danger to the visitor’s goal.
The Ponzio-Cirigliano partnership, wasn’t as oiled as last season, but they were good enough to limit the team from Cordoba to long balls.
Almeyda’s idea was for River to defend tightly and change speed and rhythm from the centre circle forward.
But on yesterday’s showing, he does not have the personnel to play that type of game.
Cirigliano and Ponzio both are accurate passers of the ball, but when asked to up the tempo; they lost that accuracy and divided many balls.
At the back Vella was uncomfortable playing on the left side of the defense, while the other Funes Mori was missing through suspension, and new signing Bottinelli was not used.
And when River were enjoying a good spell towards the end of the first half, Carranza sent a low cross, Vega blundered and missed the ball completely, and Melano was there to take the gift and put Belgrano 1-0 up, that was the score at the end of that half.
River did not have time to show what their plans were to try and equalise, as in the 2nd minute Carranza saw Vega off his line, and with a delightful finish over the keeper’s head put the 2-0 that shocked the home side.
Cirigliano, who had lost the ball in the action leading to that second goal was replaced to the disapproval of the home fans who booed that substitution.
River pressed but more with untidy runs forward than anything else, making it easy for their opponents to defend against them.
Lanzini took a free kick from the left side, and after a deflection off the wall, it flew in to reduce the deficit to 2-1.
On the 90th minute the referee gave the home side a very dubious penalty. The keeper came out to punch and clear a cross, just as Funes Mori was running and jumping towards the incoming ball.
They clashed, and both fell to the ground. If something, the one that got the worst deal on that clash was the goalkeeper who was nearly unconscious for a few minutes.
When he recovered, he was shown the yellow card for his supposed foul.
Funes Mori hit the ball dreadfully and missed the penalty, and Olave (Belgrano’s keeper) was shown the red card for “excessive celebrations”, again an awful decision by the referee.
With 7 minutes added on (that was about right) River tried with the long ball (as Belgrano had a field player in goal), but couldn’t do it, and the final whistle sentenced their unhappy return to Primera Division.
Final score River Plate 1- Belgrano 2.
Almeyda's loyalty's gamble on the goalkeeper did not work, and neither did his planned pacey and wide attacking game.
He will have to rethink big, because his team does not have the luxury of time to click.
River needs results and points and they need them from the begining