1. Boca & River – Tied at the top ahead of a colossal week of superclásicos
There is only one topic of conversation in Argentina at the moment and that will remain the case until at least a couple of weeks into May: the superclásico. Recent years have seen both sides far from their best but 2015 has shades of the 90s about it with the two Buenos Aires giants neck-and-neck at the top of the league and set to clash in the last 16 of the Copa Libertadores. The significance of any meeting between these two sides is always huge but the magnitude of the triple-header starting in a little of a week cannot be understated.
In Round Ten, River Plate deservedly defeated Banfield 4-1 in the Monumental thanks to a late Fernando Cavenaghi double, putting him tenth in the club’s list of leading scorers. Marcelo Gallardo will be buoyed by his side making the most of their chances but concerned by the persistant signs of frailty in defence. The win put River top of the table but later on Sunday they were joined by arch-rivals, Boca Juniors.
It might have been said that until Sunday Boca had not really been tested given their group in the Libertadores and the fact that there opening nine league fixtures came against bottom half clubs. Away to Lanús, a side who lost for the first time at home in over a year the week prior, certainly gave Arruabarrena’s Boca an examination. Despite falling behind in less than a minute, Boca passed the test and ran out deserved 3-1 victors.
This weekend there is no Primera action because of goverment elections but Sunday May 3rd the two clash in La Bombonera with league superiority to play for. Days later they will meet again in the Copa Libertadores last 16 first leg and a week later, the trilogy will be complete. Boca have shown the better form so far in 2015 but that will likely count for nothing when the two meet.
2. Gabi Milito: The man to revive Estudiantes
Juan Sebastián Verón moved swiftly last week to oversee his first sacking and hiring as Estudiantes president. Following defeat to Tigre, time was called on Mauricio Pellegrino’s spell as manager and within days Verón appointed former Barcelona defender, Gabriel Milito.
Milito was a player under Pep Guardiola and has been coaching Independiente’s youth sides since his retirement. A legend in Avellaneda, Milito rejected the opportunity to lead the side when El Rojo appointed Jorge Almirón in 2014 and left his role with the youth set-up after a reported disagreement over Sergio Agüero’s younger brother.
However, if Independiente are looking for a new manager in the coming weeks, Milito’s name would have been at the fore, perhaps impacting on Verón’s rapid response.
Milito was in La Plata on Friday night as Nelson Vivas oversaw the 1-1 draw with Rosario Central but made his managerial debut on Tuesday in the decisive victory over Barcelona of Ecuador in the Copa Libertadores. A pretty favourable draw sees them play Santa Fe in the last 16 but Milito must address the sides league form. Having not won since round three and dropping to twentieth much more is expected from what is a talented side.
3. Independiente’s latest failure could leave Almirón a dead man walking
Four without a win, two consecutive games without a goal, and failure to defeat the ten men of Argentinos Juniors on Saturday has left the already unpopular, Jorge Almirón clinging to his job with Independiente.
Any grace from getting Independiente to an excellent fourth-placed finish in the Torneo Transición appears over now and the showing against Argentinos Juniors did little to lift the mood in the Estadio Libertadores de América. The dependence on captain Federico Mancuello is obvious but Almirón’s system is not getting the best out of the recent Argentina international, leaving the 26-year-old overworked and away from where he can do most damage. The 4-4-2 used this season sees a number of players playing in positions not suited to them and as the side continue to leak goals, the ability to find the net is even more important.
President Hugo Moyano has already said that the club are still paying off several of the previous managers and so he is obviously loathed to end Almirón’s contract early. However with an away match to Banfield up next, then Boca at home before the clásico de Avellaneda, another couple of defeats and you feel he will have little choice.
4. Defeats for Arsenal, Defensa and Crucero mean 3 more managerial casualties
While Jorge Almirón maybe the next, round ten had no shortage of other managerial casualties. Three more were either fired or pushed into resigning this week taking the season tally to eight. In only ten rounds of league football it is an impressive amount but then again Argentine football is an unforgiving place.
Despite picking up their first win of the season last week, Martín Palermo obviously remained a man under intense pressure at Arsenal. The side lost key players in the summer but there are still few excuses for just how bad Arsenal have been in 2015. On Saturday afternoon, defeat to Sarmiento in Junín signalled the end for Palermo but he was in good company.
Defensa y Justicia have also been struggling and picked up just two victories. On Saturday they lost at home to minnows Temperley and the supporters let their opinions known with a banner suggesting that manager Dario Franco would not be able to direct traffic, let alone the side. In the aftermath, Franco gave his resignation and the club have quickly appointed former Vélez boss, José Flores.
Finally and most surprising was Gabriel Schurrer’s exit from Crucero del Norte. The bus company are in the top flight for the first time and are overwhelming favourites to go straight back down so expectation is minimal. However, that did not stop the board telling Schurrer that they would not be renewing his contract in June, prompting the 43-year-old to offer his immediate resignation. It is very difficult to imagine who Crucero can attract to the club and importantly what more they can expect.
5. Aldosivi cause big upset against San Lorenzo
It has been a bad week for San Lorenzo. A second string side travelled to Mar del Plata to face newly promoted side, Aldosivi but were still expected to have more than enough to keep Edgardo Bauza’s side at the top of the table. José Sand’s scrappy goal punished a well below-par performance to give El Tiburón a huge victory but perhaps the loss would have been justified had Los Cuervos been successful in their main interest.
However, on Wednesday evening a defeat at home to Uruguayan side Danubio along with results conspiring against them in Brazil saw the Copa Libertadores holders crash out of the group stages.
Such failure really increases the pressure on Edgardo Bauza, who had already come under-fire from certain groups f supporters for his perceived negative tactics and team selections.
Lifting the Copa Libertadores last year was the club’s greatest achievement but there is no room for sentiment with Los Cuervos. 2015 has seen a focus on defending their Libertadores title even though they have still performed well enough in the Primera. Elimination at the first hurdle, in spite of their very difficult group, can be seen as nothing but a failure and Bauza will need to impress domestically now to avoid being the next unemployed coach in Argentina.
