It's been made clear Argentina's football league is one of the toughest ones around, but Estudiantes has shown how a solid strategy and the hunger for glory can be two defining weapons on the quest for the title. Nonetheless last week's misstep against Rosario Central forced Estudiantes to stand one point below Argentinos in the fight for the title. Colon needs to recover from the wounds Godoy Cruz inflicted in the last match, will they be able to stop Estudiantes' fierce advance?
Here, there and Everywhere
Alejandro Saballa has undoubtedly turned Estudiantes' squad into a deadly engine, and after claiming last year's Libertadores title, the Pincha are now about to lift the Torneo Clausura's title after many years and it looks like qualification for the semi finals of America's most coveted competition is about to be obtained.
Ismael Sosa, Enzo Perez, Clemente Rodriguez, Mauro Boselli, Gaston Fernandez, Juan Sebastian Veron... the list of Estudiantes' offensive possibilities is endless, and that's the reason the team is second in the table of goals, having scored an average higher than 1.5 goals per game.
As if it wasn't enough team's defense has been rock solid, receiving only 13 goals in the tournament, securing the title in case Argentinos joins the Pincha at the first position. Mauro Boselli is the current top striker of the tournament with 10 goals, even though he's sharing that honor with Martin Palermo. Upon a victory this legendary striker can claim another title before traveling to the European Football.
But it is not all a bed of roses for Estudiantes. Juan Sebastian Veron received a red card during last week's match and will be unable to perform, and this comes at the worst possible times, for Saballa is preserving its best players for the match home against Internacional, and it will be tough to decide which rabbit will the team chase with mos determination, as there would be nothing worse than ending the season empty handed.
Having won its last four matches away the Pinchas will be looking forward to returning home with the three points, to expect some assistance from Huracan to celebrate another title in the Argentinean history. Having experienced some defensive problems during the last weeks team's manager will have to find a way to secure the players give everything they can to claim this year's title... Will this be enough?
The endless fall
During the first half of the tournament Antonio Mohammed managed to take the team to the first position and even experience the solitude of the top for a couple of weeks, but from that moment on the team has gone downhill, standing at the moment at the 14th position with 21 points.
Esteban Fuertes has been the cornerstone of team's strategy, scoring a third of Sabaleros goals with six conversions. During the last weeks this 36 year-old legend has not been determinant at all, revealing all the weaknesses its team has to convert offensive opportunities into realities.
Team's manager chose to remain silent for this week's preview, as during 2008's definition his declarations proved to be more controversial than expected, by humorously calling for some stimulus from the title's hunters to stop Estudiantes. After some public confrontations, the Turco appears to have learned its lesson.
But this decision leave us only with speculations regarding the formation for this decisive clash. It's clear Diego Pozo will not be able to perform, preparing for its trip to South Africa. Without the security of Pozo between the posts, Esteban Fuertes' role will grow even larger, as only an early advantage against Estudiantes can secure their success on this clash.
Having obtained only two of the last 15 possible points the Sabaleros will be sunk at the bottom of the positions table if they're unable to stop Estudiantes' fierce advance. Argentinos will be sending its best wishes for the Sabaleros to ensure the top will remain on their hands no matter what the result is.
Numbers in time
Of the 66 times these teams faced each other the upper hand is undoubtedly on Sabaleros' hands, with 28 victories against the 18 triumphs Estudiantes has been able to collect. In all these matches both teams scored almost the same amount of goals (86 for the Pincha and 93 for the Red & Black)
Colon has not been able to claim the three points at La Plata since 1998, but for their ease this time they'll have the advantage of playing home. Will they do Argentinos a favor and shatter Estudiantes' champion dreams?
