Whenever Boca Juniors and River Plate get together in Argentina's Superclasico , the rest of the games around the country are always bound to be overlooked. While eight teams have gained more points than Boca so far, River sits just two points above the bottom of the table.
And while the passion and excitement at El Monumental in Nunez on Sunday will not be diminished despite the struggles, the most important game in Argentina this weekend (in terms of title implications) is north of Buenos Aires in the city of Sante Fe.
Diego Simeone's San Lorenzo side will face their second consecutive difficult road game, after beating River Plate of Uruguay on Wednesday in the Copa Sudamericana despite being reduced to 10 men in the second half.
It will get no easier at the Estadio Brigadier General Estanislao Lopez in Santa Fe, nicknamed "The Elephants Graveyard" for all the scalps of big teams Los Sabaleros have taken over the years.
When Simeone played, it was said that he played with a knife between his teeth, a mentality San Lorenzo will have to take with them Sunday night if they want to remain at the top of the table.
Currently, San Lorenzo has 19 points, while no fewer than eight teams are within two points of them. Colon sits just one point back with 18, and it looks to take the First Division title for the first time in its history. It would be fitting for yet another big Buenos Aires club to fall by the wayside in Santa Fe, especially if Colon can continue its improbable run through the rest of the Aperatura.
After falling in a dramatic three team playoff in the 2008 Aperatura, San Lorenzo floundered to 11th place in the 2009 Clausura and was knocked out of the Copa Liberatores in the group stage, leaving the fans of El Ciclon still without South America's biggest prize, the only one of the "Big Five" in Buenos Aires not to have won it.
Despite the disastrous end to last season and the loss of Gonzalo Bergressio to France, Simeone has come in and resurrected Los Cuervos. Uruguayan defender Pablo Pintos gave the club the vital goal in Montevideo on Wednesday, while striker Bernardo Romeo headed the only goal in a win over Rosario Central, which took them to the top of the table.
The addition of Simeone's former teammate with Argentina at the 2002 World Cup, Kily Gonzalez, has sparked the team with his creative wing play, while captain Diego "El Burrito" Rivera continues to boss the midfield.
Colon grabbed a vital three points last weekend in La Plata against Gimnasia, but was helped greatly thanks to a horrific own-goal from Ruben Maldanado.
Antonio Mohamed's side has looked to goalkeeper Diego Pozo for inspiration, and the former Godoy Cruz man's sensational form has even warranted a call-up from Diego Maradona to the National Team.
Elsewhere, Dario Gandin and Independiente travel to Rosario to face Central on Friday night. Should "El Tolo" Gallego's side pick up three points at the Gigante de Arroyito, Independiente (who currently has 17 points) will leap frog San Lorenzo into first place.
Also on Friday night, Estudiantes de La Plata will host Atletico Tucuman. Estudiantes suffered a 2-1 loss at Newell's in Rosario at the hands of a Rolando Schiavi penalty, a man who was on loan at Estudiantes last season during their run to the Libertadores title. Alejandro Sabella's side had a chance to sign Schiavi on a permanent basis, but chose not to, and in the end, "El Flacao" sunk Estudiantes out of the first position.
Also gone from Estudiantes' Liberatadores winning side is Gaston "La Gata" Fernandez, although Mauro Boselli has shouldered the load admirably up front, already netting five times, and Estudiantes should be stern favorites to win, especially in front of their home fans.
No matter what happens this weekend, it is unlikely that we will find out much more about where the Aperatura crown will end up this season. With eight teams clustered within two points, and Boca a further three points behind, it promises to be one of the most exciting finishes in recent history.
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