Game of the Weekend:
River Plate vs. Velez Sarsfield
Ricardo Gareca's Velez Sarsfield side have had a tough time of things in 2011 so far, and the Fortin will try to get their season back on track with a win this Sunday. They won't find it easy however against a River team yet to concede a goal in the Clausura; even if the Millo have looked rather toothless going forward.
The biggest relief for the Liniers side is that they will not be lining up against a single Chilean in the Monumental, after Andean sides Union Española and Universidad Catolica both handed out Copa Libertadores defeats to Velez in recent weeks. You do not become a bad team overnight however (although Boca may beg to differ). With players of the calibre of Santiago Silva, Maxi Moralez, Juan Manuel Martinez and David Ramirez in the team the Fortin will give River their strongest test yet, and could well break the 360 minute lockdown on the Millonario net.
Juan Jose Lopez's team on the other hand have reason to celebrate after a solid start to the season, and in the week various staff members went as far as to compare the Nuñez club to Barcelona and Jose Mourinho's Inter. This may be a touch optimistic, but the team looks rock-solid at the back and lies in third with eight points from the first four games. The real issue has been scoring goals; the goals for column in the table registers just three strikes for the giants, and with Mariano Pavone set to continue as the lone striker a profound change looks unlikely.
Prediction: It's the unstoppable force against the immovable object, last year's attacking powerhouses against a River defence which has been watertight with young Leandro Chichizola in goal. This game will be decided by one goal, and Velez have the tools to grab it and win the game.
Saturday's Action:
An intriguing fixture kicks us off on Saturday, featuring two of the teams who have been up and down in recent weeks. Lanus and Gimnasia both managed to lose their respective derbies next week and will be desperate to bounce back, and an intriguing clash between Primera golden oldies Mauro Camoranesi and Guillermo Barros Schelotto makes the fixture an interesting one.
Camoranesi and 'El Mellizo' prepare for battle
Later on the week's only clasico sees San Lorenzo hosting Boca Juniors in Bajo Flores, in a game with all the ingredients of a classic. Walter Erviti and Diego Rivero are guaranteed a spicy return to the Gasometro as the Boca pair go back to their former club, while Matias Gimenez moved the other way and Cuervo coach Ramon Diaz- a River Plate legend- is always in for a rough ride from Xeneixe fans. The big question for Boca will once more be can they boasts a creative cutting edge without Juan Roman Riquelme, who is on the sidelines for the fourth game running through injury.
While the two grandes do battle in the south of Buenos Aires, Argentinos Juniors will be looking to break their run of four games, four draws when Arsenal de Sarandi visit La Paternal. Arsenal picked up a fantastic result on Monday with a 3-0 thrashing of neighbours Independiente, but the Bicho are a tough prospect on home turf and another draw wouldn't surprise anyone.
Sunday's Action:
You wait two years for a stadium, and then it feels like you never leave. Estudiantes play their third game in a row at their shiny new Estadio Unico home, retractable roof and all, as they host Godoy Cruz on Sunday afternoon. Both teams suffered through tough Copa Libertadores victories midweek, and it wouldn't be a surprise to see a few reserve players on show as the teams try and conserve batteries for the long run ahead.
While River get the ball rolling in the Monumental Colon will also be kicking into action, as the 'Elephant's Graveyard' in Santa Fe plays host to Racing Club. It would be difficult to find two teams in the league that are currently in higher spirits; Clausura top scorer Esteban Fuertes especially must feel 20 years younger after smashing in an incredible 45 yard strike last week against Godoy. Racing meanwhile will be unchanged from the swashbuckling 4-3 victory over Olimpo; coach Russo though will be hoping for a repeat of the first and not second half performance.
Monday's Action:
A relegation '0.6 pointer' on Monday sees bottom of the pile Quilmes travel to Parque Patricios to tackle Huracan, in a game both sides simply must win. The Cervecero have been awful this term, but have brought in hothead rent a quote/ relegation saviour Ricardo Caruso Lombardi to try and avoid the drop. Huracan meanwhile were much better in drawing against Newell's last week and will hope to go one better and start to approach their rivals the other side of the promocion.
Chief amongst these rivals are Independiente, who have now gone over five months without tasting victory in the league. Coach Antonio Mohamed may have won the Copa Sudamericana last year but his head is well and truly on the chopping block; a failure to grab three points at home to Newell's Old Boys would almost certainly see an end to 'El Turco's reign at the Libertadores de America.
Full Fixtures and Predictions:
Lanus 2-0 GimnasiaSan Lorenzo 1-0 Boca
Argentinos 1-1 Arsenal
Estudiantes 2-2 Godoy C.
Colon 0-2 Racing
River 0-1 Velez
Huracan 2-1 Quilmes
Independiente 1-1 Newell's O.B
