5 things we learned from Argentine Primera round 2
1. The Copa Libertadores poses a real dilemma
It may only have been week two but the effects of playing midweek in one of the most gruelling club cup competitions in world football was evident. Racing and River Plate, the two standout sides from the Transición both dropped points against sides that ordinarily they would be heavy favourites to beat.
Racing were imperious when they thumped Deportivo Táchira on Tuesday night in Venezuela but without the rested Diego Milito and Gustavo Bou, La Academia struggled against Olimpo on Saturday afternoon and could only muster a goalless draw. One point from their opening two matches is hardly the start of champions, and although it is a long season, the proof of the strain of the Copa Libertadores is evident.
River, meanwhile, produced what Marcelo Gallardo described as the worst match since he has been in charge, drawing 2-2 with Quilmes in the Monumental. This came after the energy sapping defeat to San José in the altitude of Bolivia on Thursday. River’s squad is better equipped to handle the rotation but the long distances that they must cover in Group Six will take their toll.
Boca Juniors and San Lorenzo fared better but arguably Boca’s visit to newly promoted Temperley did not stretch them too far and San Lorenzo had until Monday night before they faced Defensa y Justicia. Both claimed decent wins to maintain their 100% starts in the league and it is certainly worth checking out the highlights of Boca’s win for Jonathan Calleri’s exquisite lob.
2. Diego Buonanotte’s return to River
>Undoubtedly one of the strangest transfers over the summer was the return to Argentine football of Diego Buonanotte. At one time he was heralded as one of the brightest teenagers in world football as he helped River Plate to the 2008 Clausura and won a gold medal with Argentina at the Olympics. However, after a car crash in 2009 which left three of his friends dead, and a series of failed transfers, El Enano never fulfilled his promise.
For this reason it was not the shirt of River that he was pulling on again but the shirt of Quilmes. While this remained a coup for one of the Primera’s smaller clubs it is more of an indication of Buonanotte’s career.
Fittingly, week two saw Quilmes make the short journey from Greater Buenos Aires into the city to face River Plate and despite manager, Julio César Falcioni claiming they would be parking two buses, it was a lively performance from the Transición’s bottom club. Well worth their point, the highlight was Buonanotte rolling back the years to evade the attention of River’s defence in the pocket of space on the edge of the box before rifling a shot past Marcelo Barovero.
3. Atlético Rafaela’s worrying form
While Atlético Rafaela were never expected to make any real waves in the Primera in 2015, the start they have made to this season is alarming. The loss of main striker, Lucas Albertengo to Independiente was always going to be felt but the feeling was that with ten promoted sides, La Crema would still find themselves comfortably above most of those sides who should not even be in the top flight.
However, Roberto Sensini’s side lost in the opening round away to newly promoted, Argentinos Juniors and followed that up this weekend with a 4-1 defeat to Banfield at home. In previous seasons, the Nuevo Monumental has not been an easy ground to visit but they have now conceded TEN goals in their past two home games.
Arsenal enjoyed a 6-1 win on the final day of the Transición and Banfield looked on course for a similar thrashing when they raced into a three-goal half time lead. The last time Banfield managed such an opening 45 minutes was in the 2009 Apertura when they had a young, James Rodríguez pulling the strings. THIS current Banfield side are not on the same level and should be direct competition for the likes of Rafaela. Sensini needs to address this alarming slump fast.
4. Crowd trouble mars Rosario Central’s good start
The atmosphere and passion for football in Rosario is something which should never be diluted but on Saturday evening the clash between Rosario Central and Tigre witnessed the first regrettable episode of the Torneo 2015. With the match goalless, Tigre manager Gustavo Alfaro (formally Central manager) was struck on the head with an object from the crowd whilst on the edge of his technical area. The cut to his head prompted a lengthy stoppage and most likely some sanctions against Central but it is a shame that it takes away from the excellent start to the season for the home side.
The 1-0 win over Racing in Avellaneda on the opening day was impressive but Central needed to show some resolve to turnaround the result against Tigre. Trailing after Yeimar Goméz second half own goal, Franco Neill brought them immediately level before Marco Ruben poked in a winner in the twelfth minute of stoppage time.
5. Same old Independiente issues nearly give Sarmiento victory
As predicted, Independiente boss Jorge Almirón is feeling the heat as soon as things do not go according to plan on the pitch. Sunday’s home match to newly promoted, Sarmiento de Junín should have been a fairly routine win for a side who spent heavily over the summer and at least at boardroom level harbour aspirations of a title challenge. Instead a starting eleven that failed to ever really take a grip of the match and appeared disjointed came within minutes of defeat.
For 84 minutes, El Rojo toiled but could not find an opening goal and then a complete defensive lapse allowed Héctor Cuevas a free header and give the visitors a shock lead. Had it not been for Matías Pisano’s injury time equaliser it would have been a humiliating defeat but the supporters still let their feelings known. On the same weekend that Daniel Montenegro joined Huracán, the decision to allow the fan favourite to leave will be a constant reminder, should Independiente fail to win.
Sarmiento were denied all three points and once again the newly promoted sides came up short. Only Montenegro’s new side, Huracán picked up a victory and while there were a couple of meetings between this group of ten, they all ended level.
