After a series of Copa Libertadores matches, now most teams will have the opportunity to recover their key players, will they be able to jeopardize Independiente's leadership?
Not much has changed since last week. Independiente remains the only leader of this tournament, though Godoy Cruz might have chance to leapfrog them and reach the top once again. Watch out for Sunday's Superclasico game, as Boca's future will be likely called upon this match, which invest a major importance to every fan. Newell's will have a tough time against Velez, but it'll be their last chance to join the top fight, before being relegated to the lower half of the table.
 

Looking forward to avoid their fourth consecutive defeats, Chaca's coach is still trying to understand what went wrong after one of the best beginnings in club's history. "We're gonna be saved from everything" Fernando Gamboa declared, as his face showed some doubts. Chacarita is standing in the Direct Relegation zone, and only a series of victories could secure their future. One of team's main problems is their inefficient offensive, and so it's likely to see Maureen Franco take over German Cano's place to sharpen Chaca's claws. Cristian Grabinski will return to the starting eleven, leaving Fernando Crosa in the bench.





Standing at the 16th position, during the last three weeks the Globo has been unable to obtain a victory. Eduardo Dominguez, one of team's historical players declared during the week they need to start once again from the beginning. This match will mean a world to Huracan, as upon a defeat Relegation could become a problem once again, and all the path walked by Angel Cappa might mean nothing unless Héctor Rivoira is able to take the Quemeros off the bottom.



Atletico's coach Mario Gomez surprised everyone during after last week's game, as by Tuesday he already decided which players will be within the starting eleven. Devis Barone, Diego Erroz, Sebastian Longo and Fabio Escobar will leave their place to Cesar More, Martin Graneros, Juan Pablo Pereyra and Luis Rodriguez, respectively. With La Pulga Rodriguez back in the fields, Atletico might be able to have the spark that shall lit the Jose Fierro for the joy of Decanos' fans.





It's clear that, even though defending their place as America's champions is the main concern of Alejandro Sabella, he's decided not to let the tournament get too far from their hands. Having defeated Newell's with Pincha's most important players, this week's trip to Tucuman will be an opportunity for Estudiantes to show they're ready to get back on track for the title. Gaston Fernandez will join Mauro Boselli after many months, so Jose Ernesto Sosa will take a place in the midfield, Maximiliano Nuñez and Leandro Benitez will be seeing the match from the bench. With team's most prolific strikers and Enzo Perez and Juan Sebastian Veron in the midfield, it'd be hard for Atletico to obtain a much needed point during this week's game.



Having obtained only two points during the last four games, Mohammed's team had to see the top escape from their hands. Standing at the 10th position, upon a defeat San Lorenzo would leapfrog them, relegating them to the 15th position. Nicolas Torres and Cristian Pellerano will be unavailable for this very important match, the first having obtained its fifth yellow card during last week's match, the latter suffering a problem in its right knee. Ariel Garce has been experiencing some problems in its right feet, so it'll be unlikely to see him within the starting eleven. At least German Rivarola will be able to return to the squad after last week's suspension.





Diego Simeone declared his future with the Cuervos will depend on the result of this week's game, but team's directive supported the coach "The Cholo will not go, no matter the result against Colon" And such declarations embedded team's players with the energy needed to recover their path before it's too late. The Cuervos are uncomfortable not even having the possibility to compete for the Copa Libertadores, and without a victory this week they'll have to suffer such a dishonor at least for another year.



Lanus will have another difficult match under the worst situation possible. Team's coach Luis Zubeldia is going through the worst streak in his short history. Maxi Velazquez is ready to return to the squad, and with team's captain the Granate will be able to recover its true shape. A defeat would deeply compromise their future, as it'd mean they will remain in the basement longer than expected.





Acade's fans are getting impatient as not even spending 10 millions dollars during the summer appears to have been enough to give some tranquility to Racing. Claudio Bieler and Gabriel Hauche, stars in their former teams are not able to live up to the high expectations they raised. Claudio Yacob's return had a bitter aftertaste, as team's captain missed a gold opportunity when his penalty shot touched opponent's goalkeeper hands. Miguel Angel Russo's players have no time to spare if keeping the category means anything to him



Team's coach Claudio Borghi showed experience is in his side, and thanks to Nicolas Pavlovich he was able to leave Avellaneda with a smile upon his face. Nicolas Peric, team's goalkeeper missed last game due to a high fever, but his place was carefully guarded by Luis Ojeda, who even managed to stop a penalty, securing the result for the Bichos Rojos. A victory would take Borghi's team just two points below the top, and probably their formation to receive Tigre will leave no open spaces to exploit their advantage at the Diego Armando Maradona.





Without a doubt one of the main reasons why Caruso Lombardi's trip to La Paternal is expected to be successful is Chino Luna's shinning present, as three times he managed to scream against Boca Juniors, taking Tigre to the seventh position and securing a place as one of league's top strikers. The matadores stand now far from the Relegation line, and with a little effort they might even have a shot for the Copa Libertadores Qualifying Places. Their luck at Argentinos' stadium has always been rather narrow, will they be able to break the spell this Saturday?



One of the most important matches this week will face two teams fighting to join the top fight, which stands more than five points away. The Leprosos have hit a rather rocky patch during the last weeks. They couldn't take advantage of the momentum defeating the leader gave them, and now only a victory would give them an opportunity to get back on track. Rolando Schiavi has returned to the starting eleven, and with him Newell's best eleven will be ready to receive the Fortin at home. Agustin Alayes, Nahuel Roselli and Leonel Vangioni will probable be sidelined due to the decrease on their performance during the last weeks, and it seems no one is safe within the squad when every point means a world.





After some success in the Copa Libertadores, Velez will have to travel to Rosario eager for a victory, as the top has escaped from their hands. Santiago Silva has shown he's an invaluable key in this tournament, and the young Uruguayan striker is ready to show he's decided to lift the title once again. Their last match away caused a big disappointment, as no one expected them to return pointless from Paternal, but now they've to be confident for this match, as a defeat could take them to the lower levels of this packed tournament.



The Superclasico will finally be held, and both giants' situation looks rather bad. Boca is going through its worst tournament in all history. Most of Xeneize's fans are blaming team's coach Abel Alves, who even thought about receiving River without Martin Palermo and Roman Riquelme, but team's directives forbid him from doing so "If we loose the match with those two boys sitting in the bench, we'll never be able to leave La Bombonera" they declared. Team's coach has been highly criticized, and due to his constant rearming of the team, Pato Abbondanzieri left the team, and rumors regarding Roman Riquelme's future were heard during the week. It seems this conflict might be the beginning of an end for Alves, as he's not likely to let other decide for him, especially on such important matches.





Slowly recovering from a harsh summer, River is just one step below the upper half of the table, and their trip to La Bombonera will mean more than three points for the Millonarios. Having won both summer games against their eternal rivals they'll be determined to return home with a victory, as it'd mean both a) they're ready to join the top fight b)they'll relegate Boca to the bottom, maybe even to the last position. Taking advantage of Xeneize's goal being the most defeated in the tournament, Leo Astrada will call Rogelio Funes Mori and Gustavo Canales to lead it's offensive. Coupled with Muñeco Gallardo going through its best moment, at least they'll pose a headache to their weak enemy. And just that might be enough to taste glory.


Knowing the top belongs only to themselves, Tolo Gallego's players will have the opportunity to open a five point gap with their rivals. Last week's victory left a bitter aftertaste in the Rojos, as Walter Busse suffered a severe injury, but it seems the situation is better than expected, and he may be able to return to the fields within this tournament. With him the devils loose a key man in the midfield, but team's coach has a lot of alternatives to fill that space. As long as they manage to take the ball to Dario Gandin and Nestor Silvera, it'd be hard not to climb three points higher in the positions table.





Injuries had also complicated Rosario Central's future, as Lucho Figueroa will be sidelined for many weeks after a problem in its right thigh, though further studies will be needed to understand how much damaged team's striker leg is. The same players that defeated San Lorenzo will travel to Avellaneda eager to obtain at least a point to get as far as possible from the Relegation danger.


After a huge disappointment on their trip to Uruguay Banfield will have little time to recover on their way to Mendoza. Only a victory will allow the Taladro to leapfrog their opponent and become the second alternative for the title, which will give team's players a much needed injection of adrenaline to keep their way up. Their main weakness against Nacional were the free kicks "Both goals hurt too much, because we were practicing the whole week long how to defend stopped balls" regretted Julio Cesar Falcioni. Banfield is the team that conceded less goals during the tournament, and the solidity of their defense will be of the utmost importance to stop Higuain's blows.





The Tomba have another tough match to prove they're meant for the title. Thanks to Federico Higuain they obtained a decisive victory last week against Atletico, and now they'll have the joy of recovering Nicolàs Olmedo, a key player during the first weeks. Sebastian Martinez might also have a shot to join the starting eleven, as long as he's fully recovered from its feet problem. Omar Asad won't risk him just for a match, and drinking from the wounds of the champion might enhance Tomba's strength for this second half of the tournament.


Jorge Burruchaga will have to travel to La Plata counting with Franco Jara's return after a long injury in its left leg, and with team's top striker Arse is likely to recover its place as one of the candidates for the top. On the other hand, Javier Yacuzzi won't be able to b within the starting eleven, recovering from an operation in its left knee. Having obtained seven of the last nine points, a victory against the wolves might take Arse to the seventh position.





Only one victory is separating Gimnasia from escaping Direct Relegation, and their luck at the Enchanted Forest has always been one of their main weapons to fight for the category. Team's level of confidence is sky high, and a victory would gave them an opportunity to join the title's fight, which they could never lift in their whole history. Looking forward to their seventh consecutive victory, the opportunity to take off is waiting for the Triperos., It is yet to see if they'll take advantage of it.