Argentina Weekend Preview: Title Challengers Look To Keep Pace

With three rounds left to play, Argentina’s Clausura is coming to a dramatic end, with the top four teams separated by just two points.

At the bottom of the table there is less drama, as Atletico Tucuman and Chacarita have already been relegated, while Rosario Central and Gimnasia de La Plata will have to participate in a relegation playoff against teams from the Primera B.

The relegation battles may have been decided for this term, but there is still a sense of urgency for some big clubs that must gain as many points as possible before entering the heart of the relegation storm next season. (Argentina relegation system is operated on an average basis.)

This brings us to the early game Friday when Tigre host Racing, who just barely secured safety last weekend with 2-0 victory at home against Banfield.

Tigre made a bit of a splash at the outset of the tournament, but despite a recent slip up in form, the team from Victoria would like to add Racing’s scalp, having already thrashed Boca Juniors 3-0 at home.

Tigre striker Carlos Luna, who hit all three goals against Boca, is involved in a battle to become the tournament’s top scorer and currently sits level with Mauro Boselli and Martin Palermo.

Surprise outfit Godoy Cruz of Mendoza, who sit two points off the pace, travel to Rosario. They know they must win to keep up with the other leaders.

With Nicolas Olmedo the latest to join Diego Maradona’s ever growing list of National Team call-ups, El Tomba were leading the tournament before tight 2-1 defeat away at River Plate.

After bouncing back with a 1-0 victory that effectively sent Chacarita down to the second division, Godoy Cruz face another team with struggles in Rosario Central. 

Godoy Cruz will have to play a promotion playoff following the season, and could only draw 2-2 with bottom side Atletico Tucuman last week. Godoy Cruz’s leading scorer, Federico Higuain, the brother of Real Madrid’s Gonzalo, will once again lead the line, while Rodrigo Salinas, scorer of a hat trick against Tigre earlier in April, will return to the starting line up in the place of Cesar Carranza.

Later Friday, another giant in danger of demotion in 2011, River Plate, will look to pad their current point total against Velez Sarsfield’s “B” team.

Having already thrown in the towel in the Clausura, Velez put all their chips in the Copa Libertadores, but were shocked 3-0 by Chivas Wednesday night. With the return leg on the horizon next week, manager Ricardo Gareca will turn to his backups against Los Millionarios at El Monumental.

Captaining Velez will be Rolando Zarate, who had a brief stint with River in 2007, and will look to follow in the footsteps of Federico Higuain by being the second ex-River star to score in El Monumental this season.

River Plate will look to keep focus after a week of ups and downs. New manager Angel Cappa was involved in a war of words with Estudiantes captain Juan Sebastian Veron.

Cappa claimed Estudiantes only beat River thanks to a fluke goal (an own goal by Facundo Quiroga), and bashed the club’s style of play. Veron responded that Cappa had not won anything with his philosophy.

Also at the center of all things River, as usual, was club idol Ariel Ortega, who was involved in a car crash during the early hours of Monday morning, after being involved in his own clash with an Estudiantes player (Leandro Desabato).

Mere hours after his car crash, Diego Maradona confirmed that Ortega will represent Argentina in a friendly May 5th against Haiti, in what will serve as a farewell match for El Burrito, who has played 86 times for Argentina and participated in three World Cups.

The troubled star will have to keep his head on Friday’s game. He has again been given the assignment of leading the attacking line alongside a youngster, this time Rogelio Funes Mori, who will see his first action under Cappa.

Funes Mori has had a shocking season so far, missing chances left and right. He will need Ortega’s assistance not only on the field, but in keeping a level head should the fans get on his back.

In goal for River, Daniel Vega has returned from injury, while Alexis Ferrero is almost certain to start in defense, after suffering an injury scare against Estudiantes.

On Sunday, the main title contenders take center stage with leaders Estudiantes taking on already relegating Chacarita.

Despite leaving six starters at home during midweek, Estudiantes topped San Luis in Mexico during the road leg of their Copa Libertadores tie, thanks to a goal from Leandro Gonzalez.

Manager Alejandro Sabell’s calculated risk seems to have paid off, as a rested Juan Sebastian Veron and striker Mauro Boselli should be more than capable of taking down the tournament’s second-worst team. It also appears that holding midfielder Rodrigo Brana and attacker Jose Sosa should overcome their injury troubles in time for the match.

All indications are that La Pincha should take care of business, and continue to top the table before hosting Rosario Central next Sunday.

Later on Sunday, Argentinos Juniors, who trail Estudiantes by a single point, travel to Boedo to take on San Lorenzo, who are looking to bounce back after a 2-0 loss to Boca in last week’s clasico.

With the likes of Nestor Ortigoza, Ismael Sosa, and Juan Mercier all in fine form, Argentinos know how important getting three points will be. They face challengers Indpendiente, who had led for the majority of the tournament before slipping up in a scoreless draw against Huracan.

Independiente will have no danger of looking ahead to their showdown against Argentinos. They have the small matter of the Clasico against Boca Juniors Sunday night at their Copa Libertadores de America stadium. It should be the game of the round.

Boca Juniors, like River, have been in the center of the news, most of it not football related. With idols Juan Roman Riquelme and Martin Palermo finally on the same page, on the field at least, Boca is finally beginning to look like the title contender most pundits thought they would be at the beginning of the tournament.

They have yet to put in a complete performance on the road though.

The only scare for Boca is the fitness of striker Nicolas Gaitan who limped off against San Lorenzo, and will be in doubt until game time.

With or without Gaitan, Boca will have a tough time scoring against Americo Gallego’s side that features in-form goalkeeper Andrian Gabbarini, who has arguably been the best player of the tournament.

He is making a late push to make Diego Maradona’s World Cup side, having just been called up for next Wednesday’s friendly against Haiti.

As great as Gabbarini has been, surrendering fewer goals than any other keeper in the tournament, he faces arguably his greatest challenge in Palermo and Riquelme. 

Up front, El Rojo will have to make do without Leandro Gracian, scorer of a miracle half-field goal against Banfield. They will have to count on Patito Rodriguez and Andres Silvera, who will feel disappointed if they cannot breach Boca’s defense, which is currenty the worst in Argentina.

If Gabbarini can keep Boca out, his team will virtually be assured of the three points, but as they no longer control their own destiny, scoreboard watching will be just as important as their own results down the stretch. 

All told, it should be a thrilling weekend of football. Should Estudiantes slip up against Chacarita, the race will fly wide open.