Argentinos Juniors, Estudiantes and Independiente, favorites for the title upon Godoy Cruz's fall last Friday will be struggling to reach the first position, who will get to the pole position first?
It's been made clear than the fight for this tournament's title has been reduced to three possibilities, all of them playing tough matches this week to secure their role in this season's end. Estudiantes' brilliant squad has been able to fight both for the Libertadores as well as the title, even though Independiente and Argentinos have shown determination to claim the title if a misstep is given. Boca Juniors will have to return victorious from its trip to Avellaneda or River Plate might leapfrog the Xeneizes and leave them at the second position from bottom. Banfield will have a tough time against Huracan, keeping their best eleven relaxed for the next Libertadores match.
The Funebreros are already facing Direct Relegation, and as if this wasn't enough the acclaimed best American team will be paying them a visit eager to secure the first position, as many candidates can take if off their hands if a victory was not achieved. Chacarita's squad will be dismantled during the summer for it's clear many players will not follow the team to the second division, and thus these last matches will be determinant to show their skills to whoever is interested in acquiring their services. Omar Zarif, Cristian Grabinsky and Emanuel Centurion will be showing their best in these last matches with the team. Having left Godoy Cruz's match in intense pain Diego Morales will return to the squad and offer his experience to midfield's creation. Team's experienced striker Facundo Parra will have to bear with young Matías Pisano, eager to learn something from the top striker before he leaves the team.
Jose Sosa and Rodrigo Braña's return to the squad will give Alejandro Sabella some experienced blood for this clash against Chacarita, as they need to gain some minutes of playing to be fully fit for next week's Libertadores match. After many weeks team's manager will be able to play with its best eleven, and the blows Juan Sebastian Veron, Enzo Perez, Gaston Fernandez and Mauro Boselli can deliver might prove deadly for their weak rival. League's top striker might be playing its last matches with the Pinchas, as he has awakened the interest of Rome, and there's no better way to say goodbye than claim the title and the top scoring position. It seems Chacarita will sank even further in the positions table upon this match.
San Lorenzo is one of the teams most compromised with a weak performance, for the Cuervos have not been able more than 17 points in 16 matches, and a goal average lower to one per game has kept them at the second position from bottom, and Sebastian Mendez has not been able to command team's cruise with expertise in the few weeks he's been responsible for its performances, even though he did find a basic structure from where to improve, as it's been made clear against Huracan and Independiente. Nelson Benítez, Fabian Bordagaray and Diego Rivero will lead the offensive ready to take the Bichos Colorados off the title's fight.
Claudio Borghi has shown consistency and determination to join the top fight, and the single point that's keeping the little devils from the first position might be overcome by Monday, as Argentinos has not been defeated in the last 10 matches and such streak has shown they're one of the favorites if Estudiantes was not to claim the title. Gustavo Oberman might have a shot within the starting eleven, and his speed has been one of Borghi's main weapons in this competition, and this young midfielder is aware of his role in the team "We need to think about ourselves and not our rivals" he declared, showing he's seriously grown under Borghi's command. A decisive match to claim the top will be held this Sunday, will Argentinos be able to do their best in San Lorenzo's ground?
Julio Cesar Falcione's spectacular performance for the Copa Libertadores have lifted the team spirit to the sky, and it seems they'll raise again in the south to show they deserve a place within the top five. Julio Barraza has been gaining minutes on the field during the last weeks slowly recovering from a sprained ankle, and he might be within the starting eleven at least for the first half. On the other hand Walter Erviti and Cristian Luchetti did not end their match against Inter at their best, and might be given some time to rest, as qualification for next year's Copa Sudamericana is almost assured. Watch out for James Rodriguez, main responsible for this Drill's bright present and Ruben Ramirez, one goal away from becoming league's top striker.
Chulo Rivoira's team is standing at the 10th position but might reach the sixth position upon a victory, and the energy unleashed by defeating Argentina's biggest team can be determinant for these last weeks, in which we've witnessed Globo's awakening after a sleeping season. Gino Clara will not be within the starting eleven, as he's not been able to perform at his highest during the last weeks leaving its place to Andrés Franzoia. Paolo Goltz will have a tough time stopping Banfield's attempts to break Huracan, but his experience will be one of team's secrets to secure at least one point from this trip to the south.
Atletico Tucuman's performance in the tournament has been rather disappointing, for only once the Decano was able to celebrate a victory, and the numbers of defeats have grown larger and larger, securing the return to the second division will take place very soon. But this has not undermined team's confidence, who are ready to do their best before going back to the Primera B, eager to show they're meant for the highest fights. These last matches will be an opportunity for team's coach Mario Gomez to improvise on different possible formations, as the fight in the Primera B will be fierce. Damian Musto and Raúl Saavedra will have a shot in the starting eleven, taking Juan Manuel Azconzábal and Martin Granero's position, to give more quality and ball control to the midfield.
Colon will have a test of fire to see if the wounds inflected by a shameful 5-0 against Newell's last week have healed or not, as Esteban Fuertes' team at the 13th position, far from the top fight the team has been involved during the first weeks. Close to secure their ticket for next year's Copa Sudamericana Antonio Mohammed will have to do without four of its best players for this clash; Esteban Fuertes, Germán Rivarola, Juan Manuel Lucero and Marcelo Goux are struggling with injuries and will be unable to perform. Cristian Pellerano's return to the squad having faced a one-week suspension will provide a lighthouse in the offensive to drive the ball where it hurts, will they be able to stand up and leapfrog Velez on the last spot for the Copa Sudamericana?
This week's derby will face Tolo Gallego's devils against a decaying Boca Juniors, whose disastrous performance might suffer against one of this league's most effective teams, ready to recover the top position which now stands two points above their heads. Pato Rodriguez have gained its place within the starting eleven and his creativity has been determinant to recover from the misstep walked two weeks ago, by relegating the first position which they have not yet been able to recover. Nestor Silvera has not tasted the net during the last weeks, and without his efficiency the Rojos are lacking an offensive figure to lead the ball. Boca's goal is the most defeated in the tournament, thus this might be the opportunity for Independiente to recover its shape and celebrate a feast on their own ground.
With most of its stars struggling with injuries Roberto Pompei will have a lot of think to do regarding this decisive derby, as he knows Independiente will be desperate to secure the three points and Roman Riquelme and Martin Palermo's absence will seriously hurt team's creation, even though Nicolas Gaitan has shown he's got what it takes to lead team's offensive, raising the interest of many European giants. Last week's victory the team returned to victory after many weeks, and River's recent awakening call for a Boca's return to success or the loneliness of the bottom will start playing against them on these last weeks. Watch out for Cristian Erbes, main responsible for the offensive creation of a team deeply compromised with its future.
The Funebreros are already facing Direct Relegation, and as if this wasn't enough the acclaimed best American team will be paying them a visit eager to secure the first position, as many candidates can take if off their hands if a victory was not achieved. Chacarita's squad will be dismantled during the summer for it's clear many players will not follow the team to the second division, and thus these last matches will be determinant to show their skills to whoever is interested in acquiring their services. Omar Zarif, Cristian Grabinsky and Emanuel Centurion will be showing their best in these last matches with the team. Having left Godoy Cruz's match in intense pain Diego Morales will return to the squad and offer his experience to midfield's creation. Team's experienced striker Facundo Parra will have to bear with young Matías Pisano, eager to learn something from the top striker before he leaves the team.
Jose Sosa and Rodrigo Braña's return to the squad will give Alejandro Sabella some experienced blood for this clash against Chacarita, as they need to gain some minutes of playing to be fully fit for next week's Libertadores match. After many weeks team's manager will be able to play with its best eleven, and the blows Juan Sebastian Veron, Enzo Perez, Gaston Fernandez and Mauro Boselli can deliver might prove deadly for their weak rival. League's top striker might be playing its last matches with the Pinchas, as he has awakened the interest of Rome, and there's no better way to say goodbye than claim the title and the top scoring position. It seems Chacarita will sank even further in the positions table upon this match.
San Lorenzo is one of the teams most compromised with a weak performance, for the Cuervos have not been able more than 17 points in 16 matches, and a goal average lower to one per game has kept them at the second position from bottom, and Sebastian Mendez has not been able to command team's cruise with expertise in the few weeks he's been responsible for its performances, even though he did find a basic structure from where to improve, as it's been made clear against Huracan and Independiente. Nelson Benítez, Fabian Bordagaray and Diego Rivero will lead the offensive ready to take the Bichos Colorados off the title's fight.
Claudio Borghi has shown consistency and determination to join the top fight, and the single point that's keeping the little devils from the first position might be overcome by Monday, as Argentinos has not been defeated in the last 10 matches and such streak has shown they're one of the favorites if Estudiantes was not to claim the title. Gustavo Oberman might have a shot within the starting eleven, and his speed has been one of Borghi's main weapons in this competition, and this young midfielder is aware of his role in the team "We need to think about ourselves and not our rivals" he declared, showing he's seriously grown under Borghi's command. A decisive match to claim the top will be held this Sunday, will Argentinos be able to do their best in San Lorenzo's ground?
Julio Cesar Falcione's spectacular performance for the Copa Libertadores have lifted the team spirit to the sky, and it seems they'll raise again in the south to show they deserve a place within the top five. Julio Barraza has been gaining minutes on the field during the last weeks slowly recovering from a sprained ankle, and he might be within the starting eleven at least for the first half. On the other hand Walter Erviti and Cristian Luchetti did not end their match against Inter at their best, and might be given some time to rest, as qualification for next year's Copa Sudamericana is almost assured. Watch out for James Rodriguez, main responsible for this Drill's bright present and Ruben Ramirez, one goal away from becoming league's top striker.
Chulo Rivoira's team is standing at the 10th position but might reach the sixth position upon a victory, and the energy unleashed by defeating Argentina's biggest team can be determinant for these last weeks, in which we've witnessed Globo's awakening after a sleeping season. Gino Clara will not be within the starting eleven, as he's not been able to perform at his highest during the last weeks leaving its place to Andrés Franzoia. Paolo Goltz will have a tough time stopping Banfield's attempts to break Huracan, but his experience will be one of team's secrets to secure at least one point from this trip to the south.
Atletico Tucuman's performance in the tournament has been rather disappointing, for only once the Decano was able to celebrate a victory, and the numbers of defeats have grown larger and larger, securing the return to the second division will take place very soon. But this has not undermined team's confidence, who are ready to do their best before going back to the Primera B, eager to show they're meant for the highest fights. These last matches will be an opportunity for team's coach Mario Gomez to improvise on different possible formations, as the fight in the Primera B will be fierce. Damian Musto and Raúl Saavedra will have a shot in the starting eleven, taking Juan Manuel Azconzábal and Martin Granero's position, to give more quality and ball control to the midfield.
Colon will have a test of fire to see if the wounds inflected by a shameful 5-0 against Newell's last week have healed or not, as Esteban Fuertes' team at the 13th position, far from the top fight the team has been involved during the first weeks. Close to secure their ticket for next year's Copa Sudamericana Antonio Mohammed will have to do without four of its best players for this clash; Esteban Fuertes, Germán Rivarola, Juan Manuel Lucero and Marcelo Goux are struggling with injuries and will be unable to perform. Cristian Pellerano's return to the squad having faced a one-week suspension will provide a lighthouse in the offensive to drive the ball where it hurts, will they be able to stand up and leapfrog Velez on the last spot for the Copa Sudamericana?
This week's derby will face Tolo Gallego's devils against a decaying Boca Juniors, whose disastrous performance might suffer against one of this league's most effective teams, ready to recover the top position which now stands two points above their heads. Pato Rodriguez have gained its place within the starting eleven and his creativity has been determinant to recover from the misstep walked two weeks ago, by relegating the first position which they have not yet been able to recover. Nestor Silvera has not tasted the net during the last weeks, and without his efficiency the Rojos are lacking an offensive figure to lead the ball. Boca's goal is the most defeated in the tournament, thus this might be the opportunity for Independiente to recover its shape and celebrate a feast on their own ground.
With most of its stars struggling with injuries Roberto Pompei will have a lot of think to do regarding this decisive derby, as he knows Independiente will be desperate to secure the three points and Roman Riquelme and Martin Palermo's absence will seriously hurt team's creation, even though Nicolas Gaitan has shown he's got what it takes to lead team's offensive, raising the interest of many European giants. Last week's victory the team returned to victory after many weeks, and River's recent awakening call for a Boca's return to success or the loneliness of the bottom will start playing against them on these last weeks. Watch out for Cristian Erbes, main responsible for the offensive creation of a team deeply compromised with its future.
