The legendary Boca Juniors vs River Plate rivalry has exploded onto EA FC26‘s Ultimate Team with the Edinson Cavani and Juan Portillo Showdown SBCs. With one player guaranteed a +1 overall boost based on the real-world result, choosing the right card could define your squad for weeks.
Let’s break down the cheapest solutions, stats comparison, and which card delivers the best value for your Ultimate Team coins.
Table of Contents
EA FC26 Cost Comparison
| Player | Team | Position | Base Rating | Total Cost | Pace |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edinson Cavani | Boca Juniors | ST | 84 | ~50,000 coins | 79 |
| Juan Portillo | River Plate | CB/RB/CDM | 84 | ~34,000 coins | 81 |
Edinson Cavani SBC: Complete Solutions
Task 1: 83-Rated Squad
Requirements: Minimum 83 team rating
Cheapest Solution (~15,000 coins):
- Ilkay Gündoğan (83)
- Jarrod Bowen (83)
- Dejan Kulusevski (83)
- Boubacar Kamara (83)
- Artem Dovbyk (83)
- Athenea (83)
- Fill remaining slots with 82-rated fodder like Hendrich and Eriksson
Pro Tip: Check your club first before buying. Many players have untradeable 82-83 rated cards from rewards that work perfectly here.
Task 2: Top Form (85-Rated)
Requirements: Minimum one TOTW player, 85 team rating
Cheapest Solution (~35,000 coins):
- Vivianne Miedema (85)
- Alexandra Popp (85)
- Granit Xhaka (85)
- Kim Little (85)
- David De Gea (85)
- Schrader TOTW (84) ← TOTW requirement
- Fill with 84-rated players like Damaris Egurrola
Money-Saving Strategy: Women’s football cards often provide excellent value for SBC ratings. Don’t overlook them when building squads.
Juan Portillo SBC: Complete Solutions
Task 1: Top Form (83-Rated)
Requirements: Minimum one TOTW player, 83 team rating
Cheapest Solution (~12,000 coins):
- Ilkay Gündoğan (83)
- Jarrod Bowen (83)
- Dejan Kulusevski (83)
- Boubacar Kamara (83)
- Artem Dovbyk (83)
- Danny Welbeck TOTW (82) ← TOTW requirement
- Complete with 82-rated fodder
Task 2: 84-Rated Squad
Requirements: Minimum 84 team rating
Cheapest Solution (~22,000 coins):
- Romelu Lukaku (84)
- Alexander Sørloth (84)
- Sergej Milinković-Savić (84)
- Alex Greenwood (84)
- Damaris Egurrola (84)
- Sanna Nusken (84)
- Fill remaining with 83-rated players
Which Card Should You Complete?
Choose Cavani If:
- You need an elite Argentine league striker
- Your formation requires a pure finisher
- You believe Boca Juniors will win the Superclásico
- Budget isn’t a concern (16,000 coins more expensive)
Choose Portillo If:
- You value meta pace (81 vs Cavani’s 79)
- You need defensive versatility (CB/RB/CDM positions)
- Budget matters (34,000 vs 50,000 coins)
- You want the statistically safer choice
TechnoSports Verdict: Portillo offers superior value. His versatility across three positions, higher pace, and lower cost make him the smarter investment for most squads. For comprehensive EA FC 26 SBC strategies, visit TechnoSports.
Showdown Mechanics Explained
Unlike standard SBCs, Showdown items from EA Sports receive dynamic upgrades based on real-world results:
- Winner’s team: +1 overall rating boost
- Draw: Both cards remain unchanged
- Losing team: No changes
This creates genuine excitement watching the actual match, knowing your Ultimate Team investment hangs in the balance. The Boca vs River fixture happens soon, so complete your chosen SBC before the deadline.
Budget Optimization Tips
Use Untradeable Fodder: Check your club for untradeable duplicates from packs and rewards before purchasing players from the transfer market.
Complete During Content Drops: Thursday evening rewards flood the market with supply, temporarily lowering prices on high-rated fodder.
Consider Both Cards: At 84,000 combined cost, completing both provides excellent squad depth and guarantees you’ll have the upgraded card regardless of match outcome.
For more Ultimate Team money-making methods, explore TechnoSports’ EA FC 26 trading guides.
FAQs
Will both Cavani and Portillo get upgraded if the match ends in a draw?
No, Showdown SBC mechanics only award upgrades to the winning team’s player. If Boca Juniors vs River Plate ends in a draw, both Cavani and Portillo cards remain at their base 84 rating with no changes. This risk factor is built into Showdown items—you’re essentially predicting the match outcome when choosing which SBC to complete. However, both cards offer solid stats at base ratings, so they remain viable even without upgrades. The potential +1 boost is a bonus rather than the sole reason for completing these SBCs.
Is Juan Portillo worth completing even if River Plate loses the Superclásico?
Absolutely. At just 34,000 coins, Portillo delivers exceptional value even at his base 84 rating. His 81 pace is excellent for a defender, and his versatility across center-back, right-back, and CDM positions provides incredible squad-building flexibility. Compare this to market alternatives: similar-rated defenders with comparable pace cost 40,000+ coins. Even without the potential upgrade, you’re getting meta-level pace, solid defensive stats, and positional flexibility at a discount. The potential +1 boost if River Plate wins is simply the cherry on top of an already value-packed SBC.
