1. Delfino makes the right call but what prompted the charge of heart?
Round eight’s big talking point wasn’t so much based on results but was instead centered on a refereeing decision and the use of technology. Referee, Germán Delfino could be a pioneer in Argentine football as it would certainly appear that in making a correct call in Vélez Sarsfield’s victory over Arsenal, he was assisted by TV replays and the fourth official but this sparked much debate.
With the match evenly balanced at 1-1 Vélez striker Mariano Pavone and Arsenal defender Dany Rosero challenged for a cross into the Arsenal penalty area. The ball struck the arm of Pavone but Delfino mistakingly awarded a penalty and sent off Rosero. Minutes later with Milton Caraglio waiting to take the spotkick and with Rosero off the pitch, Delfino picked up the ball and reversed his initial decision, bringing Rosero back onto the pitch, giving Arsenal a free-kick and showing Pavone a yellow card.
The correct call was made. However, replays show a television producing speaking with the fourth official who then speaks over the mic to Delfino. Miguel Ángel Russo and the Vélez bench made it clear what they thought had happened and although the correct decision was made, they were probably right.
The use of replays in this instance is not allowed and so Delfino faces a ban if the AFA deem that he did make use of this. The referee will maintain that he simply changed his mind, as he is entitled to do, but the evidence seems to say the contrary.
The incident is a good example of the use of technology in football. Without it the wrong decision was made but with the assistance of the fourth official it was corrected. Delfino could well be punished for his actions but it will bring up an interesting debate in the AFA.
2. River celebrate victory ahead of a huge week
River Plate have been much criticized in 2015 following a series of wasteful performances and defensive lapses but on Sunday in the Monumental, Marcelo Gallardo’s side gave a reminder of their championship mentality with a win over league leaders San Lorenzo.
Forced to field a much-changed and inexperienced eleven, Uruguayan Carlos Sánchez netted the only goal of the game to maintain an unbeaten start in the league and move River up into third just two points behind Boca.
The victory silenced a number of doubters who had begun to question Gallardo’s River but it provides only the briefest of respites. On Wednesday night, River play Tigres in Monterrey with their status in the Copa Libertadores on the line. It is hard to believe that River, the Copa Sudamericana champions, are still winless in this year’s competition and are staring at early elimination unless they defeat group six leaders, Tigres.
This has been their priority, as it is for all the sides competing in the continents premier cup competition, failure on Wednesday and the murmurings of a crisis will return with greater voracity.
3. Boca top with a better record than Bianchi’s 1998 side = huge expectations
Boca Juniors made it six wins from the opening eight fixtures with Sunday’s deserved win over Huracán and with it moved two points clear at the top of the Primera. Anyone who has seen Rodolfo Arruabarrena’s side in 2015 knows that they are genuine title contenders and with the strength of their squad they must be seen as one of the Libertadores favourites also.
However, after taking twenty points from a possible twenty-four in the league and having already qualified for the Libertadores knockout stages with a 100% record in their group this Boca side are now genuinely drawing comparisons to some of the great Boca sides of yesteryear.
The latest league victory actually made it a better start to the season than that of Carlos Bianchi’s 1998 title winning side. That side of Riquelme, Palermo and Serna went on to not only win the title in ’98 but also set in motion the dominant Libertadores sides of the noughties. They also notched a 40-match unbeaten run which gives this side something to aim for.
It is far too early to begin such comparisons and it is worth noting that the expanded league system makes his easier but with Dani Osvaldo leading the attack, a creative and vibrant midfield of Lodeiro, Meli and Gago and a defence marshalled by Cata Diaz, this side could achieve something special this season.
4. Belgrano and Banfield continue to surprise
The top of the Primera table is beginning to take shape with the expected challegers jostling for position but there are perhaps two names that are surprising more than a few people this season: Belgrano and Banfield.
Both sides enjoyed victories over newly promoted sides in round eight but now sit in fifth and sixth respectively on sixteen points, just four off the top but what has prompted this sudden up-turn in form?
Belgrano have for a while been a dangerous side at least in Córdoba but they are now carrying that on the road and Friday’s 3-1 win over Sarmiento was a third away victory of the season. Ricardo Zielinski’s side has pace and goals in it and should continue to upset a few more sides in 2015. This was a third straight win for El Celeste and two home matches against Quilmes and Crucero del Norte up next you wouln’t bet against this run ending.
Banfield are even more a surprise given that one month ago after a defeat to Defensa y Justicia there was talk of Matías Almeyda getting the chop. Skip forward and Banfield are now on a four-match winning streak and riding high in the table. Monday afternoon’s victory over Nueva Chicago was the latest but all of a sudden Almeyda’s side are adding goals to what has always been pretty attractive football. This may not continue however with a decidely tricky fixture list coming up: Lanús, River Plate and Independiente are the next three.
5. Argentinos Juniors shock Lanús
There were no examples before Sunday of one of the newly promoted sides defeating one of the genuine Primera challengers and after being thumped by Huracán and drawing with Nueva Chicago few would have predicted that Argentinos Juniors would be that side.
However, Nestór Gorosito’s young side did just that, taking full advantage of another limp performance from El Granate and travelling to La Forteleza and end Lanus’ 21-match unbeaten run at home. A quick counter, aided by some shoddy defending, allowed Jonathan Rodríguez to tap in the only goal of the game midway through the second half.
With the win Los Bichos leapfrog Lanús into ninth and the home supporters let their grievances very clear. One of these “supporters” rather over-stepped the mark by punching midfielder Matías Fritzler in the face after the match.
