1. Article 225 in the spotlight again as Mancuello avoids suspension
When Independiente’s talismanic captain and Argentina squad member, Federico Mancuello was sent off with two minutes remaining of Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Boca Juniors, thoughts immediately turned to next weekend’s clásico de Avellaneda. El Rojo are already under pressure amid a poor run of form and the prospect of facing rivals Racing without Mancuello was cause for concern.
However, like many of the Primera sides, Independiente have utilised the now infamous ‘Article 225′ to delay the suspension. The idea behind 225 is that when another member of the squad is unavailable due to being called by the national side then the suspension can be postponed until that player returns. Increasingly this is being stretched by Primera clubs so that the suspension takes place at a more convenient time and in the case of Independiente that is certainly the case.
El Rojo’s claim is that 18-year-old defender Rodrigo Moreira is away with the Argentina under-20s and so with him unavailable, Mancuello can serve his suspension later. This alone is tenuous but when you consider that Moreira is yet to even make his first team debut it appears even more ludicrous.
Independiente, Jorge Almirón and Mancuello in particular will be relieved, after the stupid nature of the sending off, but should the captain play a role in an Rojo victory away to their fierce rivals, Racing will justifiably have some grievances.
Independiente are not the first club to use article 225 and for as long as it exists they will not be the last, however, it is a more high-profile example and perhaps the AFA need to review this particular rule.
2. Boca and River held ahead of concluding superclásico
Ordinarily the meetings between four of the ‘Big Five’ would be significant matches in the Primera but falling in between Copa Libertadores first and second legs meant that the league took a bit of a backseat this weekend.
Marcelo Gallardo’s River and Diego Cocca’s Racing were the two standout sides from the Transición and in addition to both harbouring dreams of lifting the Libertadores, they both have ambitions to be crowned Primera champions in 2015. At any other time of the season, the visit of La Academia to the Monumental would be one of the most attractive and fiercely contested fixtures of the season but on Sunday afternoon with huge Libertadores last 16 ties in four days it was the meeting of two reserve sides and it ended goalless.
In Avellaneda, Jorge Almirón’s under-fire Independiente faced league leaders Boca Juniors, who once again flexed their squad strength to rest several players but remain a side enviable to most in the Primera. Boca earned a decent enough 1-1 draw to remain top of the table and two points clear of Belgrano.
So, with no ground gained or lost in the Primera, Boca and River move swiftly on to their Copa Libertadores second leg on Thursday night. River make the short journey to La Bombonera holding their narrow one-goal advantage but both sides will be at full strength for the biggest match of the season
3. Huracán continue to struggle after Libertadores exit
Just two league wins and a point above Crucero del Norte down in 27th, Huracán were earlier in the season able to point to their Copa Libertadores commitments when explaining their poor domestic form. A small squad only just promoted from the Nacional B was stretched to the maximum having to play twice a week in an international competition that took them as far away as Venezuela.
However, following their elimination three weeks ago, there are no more excuses. Five defeats in the last six now see El Globo just above Crucero and Nueva Chicago in the descenso table meaning a vast improvement is needed.
Saturday’s defeat was a new low for 2015 as Olimpo chalked up their first win of the season in the Estadio Ducó. The visitors had scored only two goals from their opening eleven matches but managed three against Huracán to secure a first three points and leapfrog El Globo.
4. Goals flow for Unión
Unión provided a fitting illustration of the difference between themselves and another of the newly promoted sides as the strike-force of Lucas Gamba and Enrique Triverio tore Crucero del Norte apart on Saturday.
Too many draws have cost Unión a loftier position in the league but the fact that only Boca and River have scored more goals than the newly promoted side is to be commended. In Triverio, Gamba and Víctor Malcorra, Unión pose a real goal threat and their fire-power should see them comfortably remain in the Primera for 2016.
Crucero scoring twice away from Garupá is something that they should be pleased with but they had no answer to the Gamba-Triverio partnership and their shambolic defending meant that both strikers were on the scoresheet inside ten minutes. The visitors tried to make a fist of things even after falling three behind and actually reduced the deficit to one with goals from Ariel Cólzera and Dante Bareyro but late goal, amid two red cards for Crucero, meant Unión ran out 5-2 winners.
5. Four Primera players make Argentina’s initial Copa América squad
Gerardo Martino named his preliminary 30-man squad for the Copa América this week and there were four players from the Primera to make the cut. The one name that really stuck out was Newell’s Old Boys defender, Milton Casco, who had not previously been called up to the national side. Martino knows the 27-year-old left-back well from their time together at Newell’s and obviously views him as a possible alternative for Marcos Rojo’s contested position. Casco is very familiar with Martino’s system but remains one of those most likely to drop out when the final 23 is named.
Joining Casco were three more predictable selections. Fernando Gago and Maxi Rodríguez have been regulars in Argentina squads for many years and have both been performing well in 2015 and Federico Mancuello has perhaps been the standout player in the Primera over the past six months. The Independiente captain made the most of his audition in the recent friendly against El Salvador and retains a place in the squad, although like Casco, the odds would be on Mancu not travelling to Chile.
